Behavior Tips & Techniques: Decreasing the Chance of Failure

A behavioral model for working with individuals who have suffered a traumatic brain injury is composed of three parts: 1) changing a ?target behavior? (attempting to decrease a maladaptive behavior or increase a skill), 2) the ?consequences? occurring after the behavior or skill was exhibited and 3) the ?antecedent? events or environmental conditions occurring before the behavior.

Most people underestimate the importance of the antecedent phase of the behavioral model even though the environmental conditions posed by the treatment setting (or home) can have a significant impact on the individual?s behavior. It is much more desirable to decrease the odds of a behavior occurring in the first place than to try to deal with controlling the consequences after the fact. All it takes is a little planning and a behavioral ?bag of tricks.?

Over the next several issues we are going to take a look at a number of antecedent management guidelines that can help prevent behavioral episodes from occurring and help to improve an individual?s overall learning environment.

One of the most common emotions behind a behavioral episode is frustration. Individuals recovering from a traumatic brain injury are often struggling with tasks and activities that, in the past, would have been easily accomplished, but are now confusing and difficult. Frustration is the result, and if pushed too far, may lead to lack of cooperation, outbursts of anger and even physical aggression.

One approach to help decrease the amount of frustration felt by the person is to decrease their chance of failure. This does not mean working far below the individual?s ability because the person can interpret this as demeaning and feel that they are being treated like a child. A good rule of thumb is to work at about 80% of the individual?s capacity. This will help them to feel both challenged and successful.

Another related antecedent technique is called ?behavioral momentum.? This approach involves giving the person a task with which they are more likely to comply immediately before a more problematic activity (1). The idea is that it establishes a high rate of success as the person moves into a more difficult task, thus compliance will be more likely to continue. Remember the age-old-saying: ?nothing breeds success like success.?

References:
1. Mace, F. & Belfiore, P. (1990). Behavioral momentum in the treatment of escape-motivated behavior stereotypy. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis. 23:507-14.
2. Ashley, M., Krych, D., Persel, C. & Persel, C. (1995). Working with Behavior Disorders: Strategies for Traumatic Brain Injury Rehabilitation. Communication Skills Builders, San Antonio: TX.