How to Think Like a Behavior Analyst: Understanding the Science That Can Change Your Life

207 Pages·2006·14.21 MB·English

by  Jon Bailey

How to Think
Like
8
a
a . . .
Understanding the Science
That Can Change Your Life
by Jon S. Bailey and Mary R. Burch
~~ ~~o~!~;~~:up
New York London
Published in Great Britain by
Routledge Routledge
Taylor & Francis Group Taylor & Francis Group
711 Third Avenue 2 Park Square
New York, NY 10017 Milton Park, Abingdon
Oxon OX14 4RN
© 2006 by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC
Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis Group
Originally published by Lawrence Erlbaum Associates
Reprinted by Routledge in 2009
10 9 8
lntcmationul Standard Hook Number-13: 978-0-8058-5888-4 (Softcover)
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Dedication
To my mother, Noreen Bailey, who never understood what I did,
and to Jack Michael, who understood everything.
-]on Bailey
And to my husband, who said, "You ought to write books."
-Mary Burch
Contents
Preface liii
m
Introduction
CIN;p~ One- Basic Concepts 1
1. What is behavior analysis? Is it psychotherapy? 3
2. It's called behavior analysis; just what does analysis 7
mean and how exactly do you analyze someone's
behavior?
3. Is behavior analysis a science or is it just another 12
form of clinical treatment?
4. What exactly is evidence-based treatment? 16
Isn't there evidence for all treatments?
5.
Who provides direct behavior-based services? 19
6.
Is behavior really all that predictable? 24
7.
So, behavior analysts don't have theories, 28
they just have data?
Summary of Basic Concepts 32
Page vii
18. What is the difference between behavioral research 70
and behavioral treatment?
19.
Is it really possible to find the cause of a certain 72
behavior?
20.
I took my dog to obedience school and he learned to 75
walk on a leash, sit, and stay, but he still jumps on
people at home and he won't come when I call him if
he gets loose in the neighborhood. Does this mean
that behavior shaping doesn't work with dogs?
~w, A~ General Issues of Behavior 79
21.
Does behavior analysis work with groups? 81
22.
What is a history of reinforcement? Do people have 85
their own unique histories of reinforcement?
23. Is all behavior learned? 91
24.
Can you really replace a behavior? Can habits really 93
be broken?
The Behavioral Take on Other 99
Fields of Psychology
25.
What do behavior analysts think of counseling? I 101
know it is often recommended for personal problems
that people have.
26. What do you think of the disease model of behavior? 106
I've also heard this called the medical model.
27.
What is the behavioral position on depression, 109
schizophrenia, obsessive compulsive disorder and
other mental" disorders?
c
Contents Page ix
Ouip~ 1W~ Applications 35
8.
Can you use behavior analysis in "real life»? 37
9.
Can I use behavioral procedures to help me improve 41
my own behavior or enhance my performance?
10.
My roommate (spouse, boyfriend, child, etc.), is 44
driving me crazy; can any of this help me get along
with him?
11.
Why is behavior analysis so popular in the treatment 48
of developmentally disabled individuals?
12.
rve read that behavior analysis is used with autistic 51
children too. How do you work with autistic
children?
13.
We know that you can use behavior analysis with 54
children, but what about with senior citizens or older
people?
14. What do behavior analysts think about changing 56
behavior in a business setting?
15.
What about other areas of application such as the 59
community? Does behavior analysis work there too?
16.
What do you think the future holds for behavior 62
analysis research? Is it primarily focusing on
developmentally disabled individuals?
C/Mp~ ~ The Science and Technology 65
of Beha11ior
17.
Behavioral research methods seem to be quite 67
different from any other psychology that I have
studied, is that right?
Page viii Contents
28.
What do behavior analysts think of cognitive 112
psychology? Do they believe in IQ? What about
motivation and emotions?
Basic Skepticism 119
29.
You seem so skeptical of other approaches. Can you 121
tell me why?
30.
What is the behavioral position on freedom and free 125
will?
31.
What is your standard of proof? What I mean is, 128
what does it take for you to believe that a treatment
or procedure is effective?
C/Mpfell, $even Myths and the Media 131
32.
Some people refer to reinforcement as a form of 133
bribery. Do you agree with that?
33.
If you use behavioral procedures like food treats and 136
tokens with your kids, will they get to where they
only work for reinforcers?
34. I heard that Skinner raised his children in a box and 139
that they became mentally ill and that one sued him.
Is this true?
35.
I saw Dr. Phil on TV one time and he sounded sort of 142
like a behaviorist. He was talking about consequences of
behavior and taking responsibility. He's known for
asking, "How's that working for you?" What do you
think of him?
36.
Is the "Supernanny" just a behavior analyst with a 146
British accent?
Page x Contents
CiMptMr ~'# Getting Started in a Career 149
in Beha\'ior Analysis
37. What exactly is the job of a behavior analyst and 151
what are the educational requirements? I'm not sure
what degree I should get in graduate school.
38. What kind of jobs and professional opportunities are 154
available for behavior analysts?
39. How do you get started in this field? 156
40. How do I become a Board Certified Behavior 158
Analyst™?
41. Can I receive certification while I am in graduate 159
school?
42. What is the daily routine of a behavior analyst? 160
43. Do you always work one on one with clients? 162
44. What skills are involved in being successful in 164
applied behavior analysis?
45. What steps do you need to take to work 167
competitively in this field?
46. How does applied behavior analysis relate to 170
performance management? I think I might be
interested in working in a business setting when
I graduate.
CiMptMr 'lluw Beha\'ior Analyst Code of Ethics 173
4 7.
Is there a code of ethics that behavior analysts must 157
follow?
48. Do behavior analysts believe in punishment? 177
Contents Page xi
49. Is it ethical to try to change someone else's behavior 180
without his or her permission?
50.
When you are introduced to someone as a behavior 183
analyst, what do you say when a person asks if you
are going to analyze his or her behavior?
References and Recommended Reading 185
Glossary 189
Appendix 195
Author Index 197
Subject Index 199
Page xii Contents