A behavioural approach assumes that behaviour should be viewed as a science based on prediction, control and observation of external events should be used as measurement. During the 1920s John Watson’s methodological views on behaviour departed from the philosophical perspective of consciousness and introspection (Owen, 2002). He held that its “goal is the prediction and control of behaviour” (Watson, 1913, 158). Watson began to develop a conditioned reflex which involved “the attachment and detachment of emotions and stimulus situations” (Samelson, 1980, 620). He conducted the Little Alberts study in an attempt to condition a phobia in a young infant (neutral stimulus) by presenting a rat and loud noise simultaneously. Prior to the conditioning
…show more content…
The terms mentioned in the former part of the essay including classical and operant conditioning, reinforcement and generalization are some of the principles of behaviour used in practice. They have formed the basis of ABA along with other key principles such as punishment, extinction, motivating operations and the three term contingency. ABA is “concerned with the improvement and understanding of human behaviour” (Cooper, Heron & Heward, 2014, 39). The development of ABA has had a substantial impact on the treatment of children with autism spectrum disorders (Sundberg & Michael, 2001). In the 1960s Ivar Lovaas carried out extensive research using the principles of ABA to reduce challenging behaviours and help to develop communicative language (Smith & Eikeseth, 2011). He also discovered the importance of early interventions for young children with autism. He sought to understand behaviours “during direct observations and a pioneering investigation of antecedents and consequences that maintained a problem behavior” (Smith & Eikeseth, 1992, …show more content…
Egel, Richman and Koegel (1981) conducted a study to assess whether children with autism spectrum disorders can benefit from observing typically developing peer models. During baseline observations they found that participants faced difficulties carrying out low level discrimination tasks in relation to colour, prepositions and shape. However, after the intervention phase, which involved typically developing peers carrying out the same tasks simultaneously, rates of responding increased dramatically. This study emphasises the importance of observation both in terms of the subject matter and how the behaviour analyst approaches his
The terms mentioned in the former part of the essay including classical and operant conditioning, reinforcement and generalization are some of the principles of behaviour used in practice. They have formed the basis of ABA along with other key principles such as punishment, extinction, motivating operations and the three term contingency. ABA is “concerned with the improvement and understanding of human behaviour” (Cooper, Heron & Heward, 2014, 39). The development of ABA has had a substantial impact on the treatment of children with autism spectrum disorders (Sundberg & Michael, 2001). In the 1960s Ivar Lovaas carried out extensive research using the principles of ABA to reduce challenging behaviours and help to develop communicative language (Smith & Eikeseth, 2011). He also discovered the importance of early interventions for young children with autism. He sought to understand behaviours “during direct observations and a pioneering investigation of antecedents and consequences that maintained a problem behavior” (Smith & Eikeseth, 1992, …show more content…
Egel, Richman and Koegel (1981) conducted a study to assess whether children with autism spectrum disorders can benefit from observing typically developing peer models. During baseline observations they found that participants faced difficulties carrying out low level discrimination tasks in relation to colour, prepositions and shape. However, after the intervention phase, which involved typically developing peers carrying out the same tasks simultaneously, rates of responding increased dramatically. This study emphasises the importance of observation both in terms of the subject matter and how the behaviour analyst approaches his