Chapter 19 Chapter 19

Promoting Generalization

Generality of Behavior Generality of Behavior Change Change Stimulus generalization

The target behavior occurs in all relevant circumstances

The target behavior occurs outside of the training situation

Response GeneralizationChange in the target behavior results

in changes in other relevant behaviors. Maintenance

Target behavior continues to occur in relevant situations after training

Examples Examples Learning assertiveness skillsTeaching social skills to an

autistic child Learning to hit a baseball

Strategies to Promote Strategies to Promote GeneralizationGeneralization Reinforce instances of generalization

- Train in the target situation

- The training stimuli and criterion stimuli are the same

Train skills that contact natural contingencies of reinforcement- Must first analyze the natural contingencies

- Train skills that will work for the learner- Train the learner to solicit reinforcement

Strategies to Promote Generalization, Strategies to Promote Generalization, Con’tCon’t

Modify natural contingencies of reinforcement and punishment- Must have some control over the natural contingencies (for example, in educational settings or treatment environments)

Incorporate a variety of relevant stimulus situations in training- Sample all relevant SDs for the target behavior- Train sufficient exemplars- General case programming

Strategies to Promote Generalization, Strategies to Promote Generalization, Con’tCon’t

Incorporate common stimuli

- The stimuli from training have stimulus control over the target behavior in the criterion situation- May include people or aspects of the physical environment

Teach a range of functionally equivalent responses

- Increases the chances of a successful response to a novel or difficult situation

Strategies to Promote Generalization Strategies to Promote Generalization Con’tCon’t

Incorporate self-generated mediators of generalization- May include self-instructions or some other behavior of the learner- May involve self-generated cues or prompts

Indicators of Successful Treatment Indicators of Successful Treatment

for Problem Behaviorsfor Problem Behaviors 1. Reduction in the problem

behavior 2. Increase in desirable alternative

behaviors 3. Generalization of the behavior

changes to all relevant circumstances

4. Increase in the quantity or quality of positive reinforcement

Guidelines for Achieving Guidelines for Achieving Generalized Reductions in Generalized Reductions in Problem BehaviorsProblem Behaviors Conduct a functional assessment Utilize functional interventionsPlan for generalization in advance

using known generalization strategiesFocus on functionally equivalent

alternative behaviors - a constructional approach

Maintain extinction (or punishment) contingencies across situations and over time

Behavior-Event Relationships

Example 1Little Tommy pointed to the donut shop as he and his mother were

passing by it. “Mommy, can we get some donuts?” he asked. She slammed on the brakes, wheeled the car into the parking lot, and brought a dozen delicious treats. Several days later they were again passing the donut shop. “Mommy, can we get some donuts?” Tommy asked again. Again his mother complied. Several weeks and twelve dozen donuts later, Tommy was asking for the donuts daily (BOI).

Behaviorof Interest

EventConsequence

Behavior -Event

Contingency

BehaviorChange

Answer

? ? ? ? ?

Behavior-Event Relationships

Behaviorof Interest

EventConsequence

Behavior -Event

Contingency

BehaviorChange

Answer

Asking forDonuts

Gettingdonuts

Positive Increase PositiveReinforce-

ment

Example 1Little Tommy pointed to the donut shop as he and his

mother were passing by it. “Mommy, can we get some donuts?” he asked. She slammed on the brakes, wheeled the car into the parking lot, and brought a dozen delicious treats. Several days later they were again passing the donut shop. “Mommy, can we get some donuts?” Tommy asked again. Again his mother complied. Several weeks and twelve dozen donuts later, Tommy was asking for the donuts daily (BOI).

Behavior-Event Relationships

Example 2Your dog’s coat was full of burrs he while romping through the

field. He cried until you removed them. Since that fateful day, he has cried (BOI) whenever he has burrs in his coat.

Behaviorof Interest

EventConsequence

Behavior -Event

Contingency

BehaviorChange

Answer

? ? ? ? ?

Behavior-Event Relationships

Behaviorof Interest

EventConsequence

Behavior -Event

Contingency

BehaviorChange

Answer

Crying Removal ofBurrs

Negative Increase NegativeReinforce-

ment

Example 2Your dog’s coat was full of burrs he while romping through the

field. He cried until you removed them. Since that fateful day, he has cried (BOI) whenever he has burrs in his coat.

Behavior-Event Relationships

Example 3William wasn’t really much of a writer. One day, for lack of

something better to do, he wrote a poem to his girl, Ophelia. When she read it, she cried sweet tears and whispered, “Oh, William! How beautiful!” Consequently, William regularly turns out love poems (BOI) - and even a few plays.

Behaviorof Interest

EventConsequence

Behavior -Event

Contingency

BehaviorChange

Answer

? ? ? ? ?

Behavior-Event Relationships

Behaviorof Interest

EventConsequence

Behavior -Event

Contingency

BehaviorChange

Answer

WritingPoems

Praise fromGirlfriend

Positive Increase PositiveReinforce-

ment

Example 3William wasn’t really much of a writer. One day, for lack of

something better to do, he wrote a poem to his girl, Ophelia. When she read it, she cried sweet tears and whispered, “Oh, William! How beautiful!” Consequently, William regularly turns out love poems (BOI) - and even a few plays.

Behavior-Event Relationships

Example 4Fred was constantly swearing, regardless of what he was doing or was around. One day, Foul Freddie’s wife took his ten-dollar beer allowance from him when she heard him swear. She continued this procedure, and consequently Fred was swearing less and less (BOI) around her.

Behaviorof Interest

EventConsequence

Behavior -Event

Contingency

BehaviorChange

Answer

? ? ? ? ?

Behavior-Event Relationships

Behaviorof Interest

EventConsequence

Behavior -Event

Contingency

BehaviorChange

Answer

Swearing Loss ofAllowance

Negative Decrease NegativePunishment

Example 4Fred was constantly swearing, regardless of what he was doing or was around. One day, Foul Freddie’s wife took his ten-dollar beer allowance from him when she heard him swear. She continued this procedure, and consequently Fred was swearing less and less (BOI) around her.