USING SHAPING EFFECTIVELY CHAPTER 14 Meg Lipper Caldwell College OVERVIEW • Introduction • Ethics of shaping • Handling difficult people • Develop the shaping habit • Everyday behavior shaping • Questions / Comments.
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USING SHAPING EFFECTIVELY CHAPTER 14 Meg Lipper Caldwell College OVERVIEW • Introduction • Ethics of shaping • Handling difficult people • Develop the shaping habit • Everyday behavior shaping • Questions / Comments SOURCES • Bailey, J., & Burch, M. (2010). 25 essential skills and strategies for the professional behavior analyst. New York, NY: Routledge. “Shaping, shaping, always shaping” Florida Association of Behavior Analysis(FABA) On a family trip to New York, a dad, after saying, “OK, I’ll take you to the American Girl doll store, but we’re not buying anything today,” gets out his platinum credit card and gives in to his begging 9-year-old daughter. Bailey & Burch, 2010 SHAPING 101 • Know the laws of behavior • They exist and operate regardless of your knowledge • Be careful not to shape inappropriate behavior • Be aware of accidental reinforcement • Previous scenarios are examples of behavior analytic principles operating in which they are increasing the likelihood of the inappropriate behavior to occur again Bailey & Burch, 2010 ETHICS OF SHAPING “In the hands of a well-trained behavior analyst who has excellent professional skills, shaping can be a joy to behold.” Bailey & Burch, 2010 YOUR EXPERIENCS?? • Personal or Professional • Were you successful? • What did you learn? THE WELL-TRAINED BEHAVIOR ANALYST • Confident • Patient • Prepared • Focused • Engages in conversation easily • Smile and nod in agreement • Pause and have neutral expression when necessary • REMAINS CALM! Bailey & Burch, 2010 HANDLING DIFFICULT PEOPLE • • • The Complainer, The Know-it-all, and The Drama Queen • Causing difficulties for everyone around them The Behavior Analyst • Doesn’t allow difficult individuals to get them angry WHY? • • • We know and understand how behavior works We know the inappropriate behavior being seen is a result of the individuals past history We are well-trained and have the knowledge to shape behavior deliberately Bailey & Burch, 2010 WHO CAN SHAPE BEHAVIOR?? • ANYONE! • Accidently VS Deliberately • Untrained VS Well-trained “Applying what you know about the basic principles of behavior to the people around you is in your, and their, best interest.” Bailey & Burch, 2010 SOME EXAMPLES http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mt4N9GSBoMI DEVELOP THE SHAPING HABIT • Strengthen your skills! • Start small • Reinforce approximations at first • 1-2 people; 1-2 behaviors for each person Bailey & Burch, 2010 KEEP IN MIND! • Remember! • We are not trying to produce new behaviors • Increase the probability of a response • More often • At the right time Bailey & Burch, 2010 SHAPING AGREEMENT BEHAVIOR • Break the ice • Start with something that will promote head nodding • Show empathy • Provide comforting words • Match and mirror behavior • Sighs, head nods • Relate a story • “My experience has been…..”, “I was in a situation similar” • Present your proposal carefully and slowly • Reinforce signs of agreement (i.e. head nods, smiles, confirming comments) Bailey & Burch, 2010 DEVELOP YOUR SHAPING SKILLS • Be on your toes, be prepared, & stay focused! • Look out for signs of agreement • “well I don’t know” “Well, I guess” • Provide reinforcement • Signs of troublesome behavior • Respond with “blank face” / no reaction • Do not frown or shake head • Remain neutral • Wait a few seconds • Return to proposal smiling & nodding Bailey & Burch, 2010 DEVELOP YOUR SHAPING SKILLS • Developing shaping skills • Can be exhausting • Takes time to perfect • Once perfected • Shaping will become an automatic habit • A Good Habit! Bailey & Burch, 2010 EVERYDAY BEHAVIOR SHAPING • Shaping parents as mediators • Positive verbal praise • Eye contact • Nod and smile • Provide immediate descriptive feedback • Results • Increase rate of correct responding • Build confidence and self-assurance Bailey & Burch, 2010 EVERYDAY BEHAVIOR SHAPING • Shaping can be powerful! • Not only clients Bailey & Burch, 2010 IS IT ETHICAL OR APPROPRIATE FOR YOU TO USE THE SKILLS YOU HAVE ACQUIRED ON SHAPING BEHAVIOR WITH PEOPLE IN YOUR DAILY LIFE??? Bailey & Burch, 2010 EVERYDAY BEHAVIOR SHAPING • YES! • The application and effect of shaping can be extremely powerful if done correctly. • Goals must be honorable and justifiable • Don’t promote your own agenda • Remain ethical • Select behaviors that are within the individuals best interests Bailey & Burch, 2010 THE EFFECTIVE BEHAVIOR ANALYST • LET’S REVIEW • Develop prerequisites for shaping • Look for behaviors to reinforce • Ignore negative feedback • Change the subject if inappropriate comments or jokes are being made • Don’t maintain the problem by saying “That’s OK” • Guess what?? ITS NOT OKAY! Bailey & Burch, 2010 SUMMARY • As behavior analysts we can influence the behavior of people in which we come in contact with • We can systematically shape others (difficult individuals) behavior by ways of being able to identify effective reinforcers and deliver them at crucial times to ensure they will have the maximum effect. • Always remain CALM & PATIENT in order to be successful • As behavior analysts we are trained to know the laws of behavior Bailey & Burch, 2010 ADDITIONAL READINGS Bloch, J. P. (2005). Handling difficult people. Avon, MA: Adams Media. Sutherland, A. (2008). What Shamu taught me about life, love, and marriage. New York: Random House. REFERENCES • Bailey, J., & Burch, M. (2010). 25 essential skills and strategies for the professional behavior analyst. New York, NY: Routledge QUESTIONS / COMMENTS