A consequence in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) refers to what happens immediately after a behavior, influencing the likelihood of that behavior occurring again in the future.
Understanding Consequences in ABA
In ABA, consequences are not necessarily "bad" or punitive. They simply refer to events that follow a behavior. These events can either increase or decrease the probability of the behavior happening again. There are two main categories of consequences: reinforcement and punishment.
Reinforcement
Reinforcement is a consequence that increases the likelihood of a behavior occurring again. This can be achieved in two ways:
- Positive Reinforcement: Adding something desirable following a behavior.
- Example: A child completes their homework and receives praise from their parent.
- Negative Reinforcement: Removing something undesirable following a behavior.
- Example: A child cleans their room to avoid nagging from their parent.
Punishment
Punishment is a consequence that decreases the likelihood of a behavior occurring again. This is also achieved in two ways:
- Positive Punishment: Adding something undesirable following a behavior.
- Example: A child runs into the street and receives a scolding from their parent.
- Negative Punishment: Removing something desirable following a behavior.
- Example: A child argues with their sibling and loses their TV privileges.
Key Considerations
It is important to remember that:
- Consequences must be delivered immediately after the behavior to be effective.
- What serves as a reinforcer or punisher is individual and depends on the person and the context.
- ABA focuses on using reinforcement strategies whenever possible, as punishment can have unintended negative side effects.
In summary, a consequence in ABA is any event that follows a behavior and affects the future probability of that behavior occurring. It's a core concept used to understand and modify behavior.
