Understanding the Concepts of Applied Behavior Analysis

Understanding the Concepts of Applied Behavior Analysis

Interactions enrich human relationships. These interactions help people develop and grow. Some people have difficulties in developing and maintaining relationships. Such people may be suffering from personality disorders. Medics have developed therapies for such people, especially those suffering from autism disorders. It involves observing the natural environment of the patient. Then, they understand the relationship expressed in the patient’s behaviors. Afterward, they analyze consequences based on the patient’s response and design specified treatment. Analysis of action is a technique involved in utilizing psychological principles in designing alterations of action in humans. Applied behavior analysis can be used in a wide field. It is used to treat autism, in business, among other areas. This paper focuses on analyzing the techniques of applied behavior analysis and shedding light on how they can be used positively in society.

People with Intellectual Disabilities are often inactive. They engage in little or limited physical activities. Human skeletal muscles coordinate physical activities. (Krentz, Miltenberger, & Valbuena 2016).  These people have low physical activities.   has indicated the cause for this type of disorder is more moderate actions within the vital organs of the body, such as the heart. Lower heart rate makes their muscles less energetic for strenuous physical activities. However, a recent study suggested the use of token reinforcement to correct the condition. The tested patients were given cycling activities for some time. They were also asked to engage in running with a timed heart-rate. A study conducted in 2012 indicated that adults get involved more in sedentary activities as they age. The study from the cycling exercise implied that people with intellectual disorders could be helped using the token reinforced therapy.

People with some personality disorders tend to develop self-harming behaviors. Most of them get involved in these activities intentionally. Such people cannot be blamed. They tend mostly to have suicidal thoughts. Recent research has implied that most of these people are most in need of attention. Since they do not get the attention they require from adults; they turn into self-harming responses. The same study suggested specific techniques that could help these types of individuals.

Using a token reinforcement technique to treat individuals with the intellectual disorder does not qualify for applied behavior analysis techniques. This disorder is caused by the failure of the human body organs. Behavioral aspects do not cause it. On the other hand, personality disorders associated with self-harming responses could be fit for applied behavior analysis. This is because the people who get involved in such activities need something. Their need is based on the relationship with the people around them and the natural environment. These people have the potential of getting used for noninvasive disposition of intentional self-hurting indexes. (Marsic, et al. 2015). This means that their behaviors can be corrected. Clinicians and physicians need to observe their relationship with the natural environment. Then they understand their practices and the cause for the same. Afterward, the design models aimed at altering their current practice. This way, such people are treated by learning their behavioral patterns.

Overly, applied behavior analysis is a very significant aspect of treating disorders, especially those attached to behavioral responses. Other types of disorders are caused by the failure of internal organs such as the heart. The techniques of ABA cannot help such people. Therefore, applied behavior analysis is a therapy that requires more attention as it is beneficial to society.

Reference

Krentz, H., Miltenberger, R., & Valbuena, D. (2016). Using token reinforcement to increase walking for adults with intellectual disabilities. Journal of applied behavior analysis, 49(4), 745-750.

Marsic, A., Berman, M. E., Barry, T. D., & McCloskey, M. S. (2015). The Relationship Between Intentional Self‐Injurious Behavior and the Loudness Dependence of Auditory Evoked Potential in Research Volunteers. Journal of clinical psychology, 71(3), 250-257.