Controversial Behavior Analytic Procedures: Guided/Forced Compliance

Controversial Behavior Analytic Procedures
Name
Institutional Affiliate
Controversial Behavior Analytic Procedures Guided/Forced Compliance Wilder (2012) states that guided compliance is an ABA procedure that integrates components from antecedent-based and consequence-based compliance interventions. It has several variations, with the three-step guided compliance as the most common intervention for treating or reducing noncompliance in children with developmental disabilities. The first step of the ABA procedure involves the delivery of clear and concise command or a vocal prompt (Wilder, 2020). The second step occurs 10 seconds after the command depending on the child’s behavioral response. For instance, compliance to the request or command is met with reinforcement, such as praising the child for initiating and completing the desired behavioral response. Noncompliance after 10 seconds makes the caregiver repeat the vocal prompt through gestures or modeling the desired behavior upon which praise is offered for compliance (Wilder, 2020). The third step entails repeating the initial vocal prompt while physically guiding the child to full compliance. Among the pros of using a guided compliance procedure is that it allows the immediate completion of tasks (Wilder, 2020). It allows for immediate analysis of behavioral responses. It is also often considered a less intrusive intervention than other consequence-based interventions, such as time-out compliance procedures. Thus, it is highly acceptable to parents with children with developmental challenges. Its cons include the potential for an aversive perception of the physical prompt for noncompliance to the verbal and gestural prompts, which may render the intervention as punishment (Wilder, 2020). The caregivers may also find it difficult to deal with the child’s resistance or opposition to the physical prompt. Legal provisions against using physical prompts in particular situations may also render the procedure ineffective.   Attention Extinction Attention extinction refers to the withdrawal of positive reinforcement of attention to reduce noncompliance or unwanted behavior (Tarbox, 2017). It is also referred to as planned ignoring, whereby a caregiver denies the child verbal, physical, emotional, and visual contact when the child is committing an attention-maintained behavior. The caregiver intentionally ignores the child’s attention-seeking behavior toward promoting compliance to a desired behavioral response. In essence, it is a consequence-based ABA procedure where compliance attracts the reinforcement of attention, and noncompliance meets its extinction (Tarbox, 2017). It may also entail reinforcing or praising the child’s peers for ignoring and tolerating the unwanted behavior towards reducing the child’s inclination to the attention-maintained behavior. Among the pros of the attention extinction procedure is that it can be easily modified to accommodate the small behavioral changes witnessed towards ensuring complete compliance. It also limits the reinforcement of unwanted behaviors. It leads to the eradication of unwanted behavior over time. Its key disadvantage is the potential escalation of unwanted ...