The Effects of Applied Behavior Analysis Essay Example

Autism Spectrum Disorder is a developmental disorder that impacts the communication and behavior skills of the individual. In 2013, the American Psychiatric Association merged other developmental disorders into an umbrella term called Autism Spectrum Disorder (i.e., Autism, Childhood disintegrative disorder, Pervasive Developmental disorder/PDD-NOS, Asperger Syndrome). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have indicated multiple interventions as treatment for Autism Spectrum Disorder, including Behavior and Communication Approaches, Dietary Approaches, Medication, and Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Research has shown that the most effective approach to treat Autism Spectrum Disorder is Applied Behavior Analysis. Applied Behavior Analysis is a science focusing on operant conditioning and improving social significance behaviors of the individual. This study will give an insight to the following questions in supporting Applied Behavior Analysis as a treatment for Autism Spectrum Disorder:

1. How can Applied Behavior Analysis help these individuals in their development?

2. How practical is Applied Behavior Analysis to decrease problem behaviors?

3. Does Applied Behavior Analysis have ethical concerns against human rights?

In the 1960s, Ivar Lovaas established Applied Behavior Analysis as an effective treatment in treating Autism Spectrum Disorder. Lovaas used the idea of Skinner’s Operant Conditioning to create the concepts for Applied Behavior Analysis. Applied Behavior Analysis involves different interventions that improve socially appropriate behaviors. Interventions such as reinforcement, punishment, Discrete Trial Training, Pivotal Response Treatment, Naturalistic Training, and many more. Defilippis and Wagner (2016) have shown the early-intensive intervention of Applied Behavior Analysis for young children with Autism can develop significant positive effects with intellectual functioning, language development, daily living skills acquisition, and social functioning.

In comparison, language-related outcomes have a more substantial impact (p. 20). Insurance has provided support to individuals that are diagnosed with Autism as young as the age of two. In recent years, insurance companies or service coordinators have informed the family that their children could get early help immediately after being diagnosed with Autism. Applied Behavior Analysis is most effective in children’s lives the longer the treatment is implemented. 

How can Applied Behavior Analysis help these individuals in their development?

Applied Behavior Analysis has grown over the past decade that there have been numerous articles on each intervention. The study by Qian (2020) discussed Applied Behavior Analysis in becoming progressive to correlate with other interventions (i.e., Early Start Denver Model (ESDM), Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS), Discrete Trial Training (DTT), and Pivotal Response Treatment (PRT)) (p. 433). Ongoing research to validate the effectiveness of the intervention has been provided over the years. Due to the constant reevaluation of these Applied Behavior Analysis interventions, research has shown more efficiency in treating the behaviors of individuals with Autism with these interventions. 

Applied Behavior Analysis is not a cure or a therapy for Autism. In the same idea, Karola (2009) has described the concept as a broad selection of procedures that have been used in helping people with multiple behaviors and diagnoses (p. 193). One of the main advantages is to treat the individual’s behavior. By changing and improving the non-appropriate behaviors, the individuals can live in a less restricted environment and socialize with their peers appropriately. These interventions 

“help many individuals with [Autism Spectrum Disorder] communicate with others, engage in play and leisure activities with peers and caregivers, carry out self-care activities such as toileting and dressing, acquire academic and vocational skills, and manage disruptive behaviors such as tantrums” (Smith, 2012, p. 101)

Teaching these individuals social skills and self-care is beneficial to their healthy lifestyles. In the future, individuals can learn to live with people that are not part of their family by acquiring these skillsets. These functional skills are necessary for individuals’ capability to live without their families when they are growing up. 

Applied Behavior Analysis can also teach parents to implement these interventions at home. DeFilippis (2016) has examined the results showing that parent training is superior to only parent education (p. 21). Applied Behavior Analysis’s support for individuals with Autism has been astounding and has improved the relationship within the families. Families involved in the development of the individuals will see an increase in empathizing and understanding with the individuals.

How practical is Applied Behavior Analysis to decrease problem behaviors?

As stated before, Applied Behavior Analysis has a wide range of interventions for individuals with Autism. Studies have shown the effectiveness of the Applied Behavior Analysis on maladaptive behaviors. Maladaptive behaviors can be considered Tantrums, Physical Aggression, Verbal Aggression, Property Destruction, and Self-Injurious Behavior. Individuals with Autism can show these behaviors in aversive environments. Applied Behavior Analysis trains the individual to become more tolerable to these environments and decrease these maladaptive behaviors by reinforcing the appropriate behaviors. 

In the study by Hernandez (2011), the research discussing the 1987 study by Lovaas found an increase in intellectual gains with the intensive-therapy group than the other two groups. The results demonstrated the long-term effectiveness of intensive teaching on children with Autism (p. 284). Applied Behavior Analysis has specific interventions to teach individuals with Autism to maintain their behaviors. The study has also reinforced the idea that these interventions (i.e., reinforcement, differential reinforcement, shaping, and making choices) to be used appropriately in helping individuals with Autism in building tolerance to venipuncture, physical examination, and other medical procedures (p. 284). In contrast, in using these interventions to develop the appropriate behavior, the maladaptive behaviors will be decreased and replaced by the appropriate behaviors that allow these individuals to be in a less restricted environment. 

Individuals with Autism are taught to decrease and manage these undesirable behaviors, but the families and support groups associated with the individual need to be involved in aiding the consistency of these behavior management interventions. Hernandez’s research (2011) also indicated teaching parents, educators, and caregivers to use Applied Behavior Analysis to manage aversive behavior and teach children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (p.284). Applied Behavior Analysis practitioner is the first and starting point in changing the individual’s maladaptive behavior. The family and support groups were advised to continue the interventions apart from the Applied Behavior Analysis session to increase the intervention’s effectiveness.

Does Applied Behavior Analysis have ethical concerns against human rights?

Just like other science, there are ethical concerns when using Applied Behavior Analysis. The benefits of the treatment are more significant than the risks. One of the concerns is altering the individual’s personality and not allowing the individual to grow up naturally. Wilkenfeld’s (2020) study argues that Applied Behavior Analysis places an “undue burden on these individuals by defining therapeutic success primarily in terms of autists’ ability to fit into normal societal structures” (p. 52). Applied Behavior Analysis does not change the individual into a different person but instead giving the individual the skills to integrate into the community. Applied Behavior Analysis is a treatment to develop the individual into becoming sociable and acceptable in the community. Applied Behavior Analysis also develops the individual’s independence by teaching self-care and vocational training. Research has shown that in similarity to others without developmental disabilities, individuals with Autism need constant education for human growth. 

According to Wilkenfeld (2020), the study claims another concern that Applied Behavior Analysis changes the way the child thinks and perceives the world (p. 47). Applied Behavior Analysis does not intrude on the individual’s way of thinking however using the treatment to support the individual’s behavior. Applied Behavior Analysis targets to improve the appropriate behaviors while not changing all of the individual’s behaviors. Doing this will allow the individual to have individualized personality traits.

In conclusion, Applied Behavior Analysis is a science that improves the socially appropriate behavior of individuals with Autism. This study shows the intervention that is used in helping the development of these individuals. These interventions decrease problem behavior while increasing the appropriate behaviors such as communication skills, social skills, play skills, and self-care skills. Teaching the individuals these skills will help their independence and ability to live in a less restricted environment. Together with the practitioner implementing the treatment, the family and the supportive group associated with the individuals can be taught these interventions to aids with consistency. The longer the treatment is implemented, the better the effectiveness.