BCAT Behavior Reduction Treatment 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A client with a history of aggression is transitioning to a new classroom. To prevent problem behavior, the technician should first:
- Implement a punishment procedure immediately
- Conduct a pre-session pairing and use high-density reinforcement (Correct answer)
- Increase the length of work periods to build tolerance
- Wait for problem behavior to occur before intervening
Correct answer: Conduct a pre-session pairing and use high-density reinforcement
Pre-session pairing and high-density reinforcement during transitions help establish a positive association with the new environment and reduce problem behavior.
Question 2: Which crisis management concept refers to identifying the earliest observable signs that a client is becoming escalated?
- Extinction burst
- Behavioral momentum
- Antecedent identification
- Prodromes (early warning signs) (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Prodromes (early warning signs)
Prodromes are early warning signs or precursor behaviors that indicate escalating distress before a crisis behavior occurs.
Question 3: A technician is implementing NCR (Non-Contingent Reinforcement). Which statement BEST describes this procedure?
- Reinforcement is delivered only when the problem behavior does not occur
- Reinforcement is delivered on a fixed time schedule regardless of behavior (Correct answer)
- Reinforcement is delivered immediately after any appropriate behavior
- Reinforcement is withheld until the client earns it with good behavior
Correct answer: Reinforcement is delivered on a fixed time schedule regardless of behavior
NCR delivers reinforcement on a time-based schedule independent of the client's behavior to reduce the motivation (EO) for problem behavior.
Question 4: Which term describes the process where a problem behavior returns when a previously effective treatment is reintroduced after a period of using a different treatment?
- Spontaneous recovery
- Resurgence (Correct answer)
- Behavioral contrast
- Extinction burst
Correct answer: Resurgence
Resurgence is the reappearance of a previously extinguished behavior when the current reinforcement contingency is disrupted or changed.
Question 5: A client's tantrums are function-based and maintained by escape. The MOST appropriate antecedent modification would be to:
- Increase task difficulty to build resilience
- Embed preferred activities into non-preferred tasks (Correct answer)
- Deliver attention on a fixed time schedule
- Use response cost when tantrums occur
Correct answer: Embed preferred activities into non-preferred tasks
Embedding preferred activities into non-preferred tasks reduces the aversiveness of demands, thereby reducing escape-motivated problem behavior.
Question 6: Behavioral momentum is used in behavior reduction primarily to:
- Decrease reinforcement density before presenting difficult tasks
- Build a history of compliance by presenting easy tasks first (Correct answer)
- Introduce punishment gradually to reduce emotional reactions
- Alternate between preferred and non-preferred reinforcers
Correct answer: Build a history of compliance by presenting easy tasks first
Behavioral momentum involves presenting high-probability (easy) requests first to build a pattern of compliance before introducing low-probability requests.
Question 7: If a technician accidentally reinforces an extinction burst by providing attention during the burst, what is the most likely outcome?
- The behavior will decrease faster due to the added attention
- The behavior will be reinforced at a higher intensity, making it harder to extinguish (Correct answer)
- The client will learn the correct replacement behavior
- The extinction burst will end immediately
Correct answer: The behavior will be reinforced at a higher intensity, making it harder to extinguish
Reinforcing behavior during an extinction burst intermittently strengthens behavior at the higher intensity, making it more persistent.
BCAT Behavior Reduction Treatment 4
A client with a history of aggression is transitioning to a new classroom.
To prevent problem behavior, the technician should first: