Re: Assignment #2 -- Life-span Human Development

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Subject: Re: Assignment #2

Author:
Tiffany Mosby

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Date Posted: 11:46:20 06/15/10 Tue
In reply to: Savannah Simpson 's message, "Re: Assignment #2" on 10:01:05 06/15/10 Tue

>>>Assignment 2 (Behaviorism): June 13
>>>Post a response to the following question by first
>>>clicking onto "Post a Reply to this Message"
>>>
>>>Think of a problem/situation in your area (teaching
>or
>>>counseling or as a parent) where you would use of
>have
>>>used behavioristic or social learning theories.
>>>Provide an example of the problem/situation and the
>>>solution.
>>As I mentioned in the first assignment, I work at
>>Youth Villages. More specific, I work at a
>>residential facility with teenage boys whom have
>>sexually offended others. I have worked directly with
>>the youth for nearly 2 and half years and in doing so
>>I have become a big believer in behaviorism. Most of
>>my youth have been victim to abuse and or observed
>>abuse within their short lives. Bandura's theory on
>>social learning really defines some of what my youth
>>have experienced. Most of the youth whom are very
>>aggressive come from households where aggression is
>>rampant. One of my client's report having seen his
>>father beat his mother by a 2x4 board and nearly
>>knocking her eyeballs out of her head. This
>>particular child had very aggressive outburst while in
>>the treatment facility. One outburst resulted in a
>>staff member getting her nose broke. When I would
>>process with this child he would claim that aggression
>>is the only way he knew how to handle his frustration.
>> That was the only "coping skill" his family used.
>>Once again social learning was an enormous part of his
>>development.
>>In his treatment, the clinical team decided to use
>>reward reinforcement to help teach him more
>>appropriate ways of handling his aggression.
>>Skinner's operant conditioning really outlines the
>>techniques we used. When the youth was able to
>>utilize a coping skill in times of frustration such as
>>taking a self time out, processing with a staff
>>member, drawing, self talk, sports, or even verbal
>>aggression he was reinforced for his behavior. The
>>reinforcement was done immediately following his
>>positive decision to not react in an aggressive
>>manner. The reinforcement may have been a verbal
>>compliment, positive incident report (tangible
>>recognition), earning extra privileges, etc. Whatever
>>the reinforcement was it was important to give it
>>immediately following his behavior and to give an
>>explanation of why he was receiving it.
>>It took a while for the youth to begin to learn more
>>appropriate ways to deal with his frustration,
>>however, the reinforcement that the staff provided
>>began to take effect. The youth began to notice his
>>accomplishment and his behavior began to change for
>>the better. He was able to earn more points
>>throughout the day (the points monitored his behavior
>>within the cottage) and at one point even made it to
>>track 2 ( a higher privilege within the cottage). He
>>was able to participate in more activities with his
>>peers because he was able to use more appropriate
>>coping skills and not hurt others.
>>I have used behaviorism while working at Youth
>>Villages the entire time. I have witnessed its
>>positive outcomes and I am grateful for the research.
>
>
>I know what you mean when you speak of Youth Villages.
>I had the privledge of doing a summer internhsip there
>a few years ago and saw many similiar situations with
>the kids. I think the point system is a good
>reinforcement for the children to stay on task and
>learn better coping skills.

I have heard that most children who act out do so because they are not receiving enough attention. In other instances, some of these same children witness horrific things that no one should every see or go through. It is very sad that these children will not have a decent and normal life. I commend people who take the time and have the patience to help these young people.

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