Positive Behavior Support
in a Jail Setting
Dr. Robb Weiss, Psy. D., BCBA-D
Copyright Dr. Robb Weiss, Psy. D., BCBA-D
2015
A little about myself
• My work orientation has been with adults
who have intellectual and developmental
disabilities
• Used to be called Mental Retardation
• Used to be called Autism
• The concepts that I bring to bear in my work
setting are applicable to all human beings
• I teach these concepts at the university level
Copyright Dr. Robb Weiss, Psy. D., BCBA-D
2015
BEHAVIORAL INTERVENTIONS
Grand Rounds Lecture
Central State Hospital
Milledgeville, Georgia
Presented by:
Robb Weiss, Psy. D.
May 18, 2007 1:30-2:30
Fellowship Hall
Copyright Dr. Robb Weiss, Psy. D., BCBA-D
2015
Positive Behavior Support
• We are talking about setting up an environment
that is conducive to the success of an individual
• We are not talking about the flaws/deficiencies in
the environment that set the individual up to fail
• We are not talking about the reactive
management of challenging behavior
• We are talking about setting the stage for the
demonstration of positive behavior
Copyright Dr. Robb Weiss, Psy. D., BCBA-D
2015
The glass half full or half empty
• We want to focus on opportunities for
improvement
• We don’t want to focus on barriers
• Barriers are everywhere
• What can we do about them
Copyright Dr. Robb Weiss, Psy. D., BCBA-D
2015
Paradigm Shift
• We are talking about what is outside of the person versus what is inside the person
• The only way to effect change in other human being is to change your own behavior
• Definition of insanity
• We are talking about concepts about the behavior of human beings
• They don’t have to “do their part” or even “understand”
• We are not talking about specific strategies
Copyright Dr. Robb Weiss, Psy. D., BCBA-D
2015
It’s all about behavior
• We need to focus on our behavior and not the
behavior of the person
• Our behavior is the treatment
• Definition of behavior-everything that we do
(actions, words, etc.)
• All behavior has function
• All behavior is a form of communication
Copyright Dr. Robb Weiss, Psy. D., BCBA-D
2015
Paradigm Shift
• It’s all about the environment and not the
individual
• Let’s begin by defining what environment is
• Environment is anything/everything outside
the individual
• Environment includes structure, density,
noise, odor, temperature, and other people
and their behavior
Copyright Dr. Robb Weiss, Psy. D., BCBA-D
2015
Environment
• All behavior occurs within an environmental
context;
• Behavior cannot be emitted in an
environmental void or vacuum
Copyright Dr. Robb Weiss, Psy. D., BCBA-D
2015
Insanity
• Doing the same thing over and over and
expecting a different result
• We must change our behavior to effect a
change in the behavior of another person
Copyright Dr. Robb Weiss, Psy. D., BCBA-D
2015
Learning
• Definition of Learn-Change in behavior not
due to neurological/maturational
development or disease/trauma
• Unicellular organisms learn
Copyright Dr. Robb Weiss, Psy. D., BCBA-D
2015
People treating people
• As whole human beings
• Need for validation and respect
• Family, relationships, desires, longings
• Past, present, future
• Hopes, dreams, goals
• Past, memories, sorrows
• Beliefs
• Need for belonging, acceptance, love, assertion, power, control
• How we treat others is a reflection of “ourselves”
• We see others more as we are than as they are
• We are more alike than different
Copyright Dr. Robb Weiss, Psy. D., BCBA-D
2015
Perception Is Reality
• How do we view the individual
• Do we define the individual by a label
• One dimensional
• The criminal
• The sociopath
• The victim
• Or do we view the individual as a whole human being
Copyright Dr. Robb Weiss, Psy. D., BCBA-D
2015
Anger
Are we reinforcing the self-image and self-
concept of a “bad” individual by managing them
in an environment that feeds into their self-
image
Are “they” training us by virtue of their behavior
to alter our behavior in ways that fulfill their
self-concept or are “we” training “them” to alter
their behavior by altering our behavior
Copyright Dr. Robb Weiss, Psy. D., BCBA-D
2015
Control
• Moving away from the paradigm of
power/control to one of dignity, equality, and
respect
• Making the individual an active participant in
one’s own treatment to enhance the
individual’s sense of control over their lives
• Providing choices enhances control
• We only have control over our own behavior
Copyright Dr. Robb Weiss, Psy. D., BCBA-D
2015
Learning Theory
• Classical- what happens before the behavior occurs will determine the behavior
• Operant-what happens after the behavior occurs will determine the behavior
• Punishment will result in a sharp decline of behavior
• Punishment teaches the person what not to do
• It does not teach the person what to do
Copyright Dr. Robb Weiss, Psy. D., BCBA-D
2015
Application
• What does this have to do with me?
• Is this relevant in your career?
• How do we find ways to implement these
concepts in the jail setting?
Copyright Dr. Robb Weiss, Psy. D., BCBA-D
2015
Applied Behavior Analysis
• Applying the principles of behavior change in
human beings
• Antecedent-Behavior-Consequence
• Technology of behavioral change
• Behavior can be observed, quantified, tracked,
graphed
Copyright Dr. Robb Weiss, Psy. D., BCBA-D
2015
Everyday interactions
• Who is driving the train
• Is the individual’s behavior directing our
responses
• Is our behavior directing the behavior of the
individual
Copyright Dr. Robb Weiss, Psy. D., BCBA-D
2015
Structure of Environment
• What does it communicate about the mission and vision
• Does it speak to punitive punishment
• Does it speak to respect, dignity, choice, control, etc.
• What positive and negative aspects do we bring to the job from our lives e.g. our upbringing, our education, our goals, etc.
• What aspects of our personality attract us to work in the environment and what are the positives and negatives
Copyright Dr. Robb Weiss, Psy. D., BCBA-D
2015
Paradigm
• What is our mission
• What is our vision
• What is our purpose
• What is our function
• All of these questions need to be addressed to
determine the role of environmental supports
and behavioral interventions
Copyright Dr. Robb Weiss, Psy. D., BCBA-D
2015
Common Attitudes About Behavior
“It’s Just Behavior”
-How often do we do something that is simply a behavior with no reason or explanation for our behavior?
-What factors contribute to challenging behavior?
-Is the behavior a choice the person is making? What is the choice based on?
-Does it indicate that something is wrong?
-Is it an attempt to express or communicate something?
Copyright Dr. Robb Weiss, Psy. D., BCBA-D
2015
Common Attitudes About Behavior
“He’s just trying to get on my nerves”
-Individual is possibly engaging in challenging
behavior for attention and is getting a reaction
that reinforces the behavior
-Understanding the behavior goes a long way
toward understanding how to respond to the
behavior
Copyright Dr. Robb Weiss, Psy. D., BCBA-D
2015
Common Attitudes About Behavior
“She just wants to do what she wants to do”
-She is self directed and has a preference for activities that she wants to engage in
-How do we adjust activities to meet her preferences?
-How do we make activities rewarding for her?
-Are we addressing naturally occurring limits?
-Are we teaching her the balance between making choices and following rules and schedules?
Copyright Dr. Robb Weiss, Psy. D., BCBA-D
2015
Common Attitudes About Behavior
“He knows exactly what he’s doing”
-Most of us know exactly what we’re doing but still make questionable choices
-Smoking…Dieting…Bad Habits…These are behaviors too
-Often the temptation to engage in challenging behavior is difficult to overcome, especially if it may result in a desired outcome or is a long term habit
Copyright Dr. Robb Weiss, Psy. D., BCBA-D
2015
Common Attitudes About Behavior
“She is a “Behavior” individual or “I have two “Behaviors” in my area”
-I would rather people define my personality by the things that I do well than by what I am working the hardest to change
-Less common nowadays. People first language has taken root in many areas, but sometimes this attitude is apparent
-Often learning to use People First language has resulted in changing attitudes such as these. So has long term experience working with people with IDD
Copyright Dr. Robb Weiss, Psy. D., BCBA-D
2015
Common Attitudes About Behavior
“She just wants attention”
-We all want attention
-What motivates someone to want more attention all of a sudden? Have we had times in our lives where we needed more attention? How do we learn to seek out attention when we need it? How are we teaching this to individuals?
-Are we teaching appropriate behaviors to get attention?
-Are the individuals who engage in challenging behavior getting more attention than those who do not?
Copyright Dr. Robb Weiss, Psy. D., BCBA-D
2015
Common Attitudes About Behavior
“He doesn’t want to work” or “He doesn’t want to participate”
-Why are we at this conference?
-How often do you and I feel this way?
-Are the rewards of the task/work worth the effort he expends to do the task?
-Is the activity interesting to him?
-We take vacations from work, do individuals need a break sometimes as well?
Copyright Dr. Robb Weiss, Psy. D., BCBA-D
2015
Common Attitudes About Behavior
The word “Behavior” indicates something someone does that is inappropriate or harmful
-Anything anyone does is a behavior. A behavior is an act that is observable and measurable
-Challenging behavior, or negative behavior, is simply behavior that is not appropriate for the time and place in which it occurs, based on the results of the behavior
-Even inappropriate behavior can have a positive aspect, or indicate a strength that an individual can build upon
Copyright Dr. Robb Weiss, Psy. D., BCBA-D
2015
Compliance vs Cooperation
Compliance is the act of doing what we are told
to do. Cooperation is the act of working
together towards a common goal. Which is
more appealing?
Copyright Dr. Robb Weiss, Psy. D., BCBA-D
2015
Compliance vs Cooperation
What’s the compelling reason for someone to
engage in a task?
-If someone simply does not want to engage in a
task, then there is no strategy that will directly
result in them engaging in that task
-So, how do we motivate someone, from their
perspective, to engage in a task that we think is
important?
Copyright Dr. Robb Weiss, Psy. D., BCBA-D
2015
Compliance vs Cooperation
Focus Intervention on essential activities first
-Pick and choose your “battles” very carefully
-Use positive reinforcement and modeling to
encourage general positive social behavior, but
focus structured interventions on areas that will
most affect an individual’s health, safety, and
inclusion
Copyright Dr. Robb Weiss, Psy. D., BCBA-D
2015
Compliance vs Cooperation
Are we expecting better behavior from the individuals we work with than we do from ourselves?
-Are the standards we are holding the individuals we work with higher than what the average person living in the community is expected to follow?
-What is a normal standard for behavior, hygiene, etc?
-Do we allow for normal human error in how we define behavior and compliance?
Copyright Dr. Robb Weiss, Psy. D., BCBA-D
2015
Compliance vs Cooperation
Are we utilizing the team process to
address/resolve ongoing compliance issues
that result in health and safety hazards?
-Don’t get caught up in a battle of wills with the
people we serve
Copyright Dr. Robb Weiss, Psy. D., BCBA-D
2015
Compliance vs Cooperation
Focus on the positive!
-Don’t define someone as “non-compliant”
-For every non-compliant behavior, there are
many more cooperative behaviors that a person
engages in that go unnoticed. No one is
completely uncooperative.
-Recognize and reward cooperative behavior
Copyright Dr. Robb Weiss, Psy. D., BCBA-D
2015
System Issues
Common System Issues
-Not enough funds
-Lack of available resources
-Staff turnover/shortages
-Communication difficulties
-Things don’t happen fast enough
Copyright Dr. Robb Weiss, Psy. D., BCBA-D
2015
Reinforcement
• Most important principle of behavior
• Key element to most behavior change
programs
Copyright Dr. Robb Weiss, Psy. D., BCBA-D
2015
Punishment
• Need to demonstrate that all less restrictive
means of supporting a behavior have been
attempted
• Clinical/Legal/Ethical/Moral/Societal issues
etc.
Copyright Dr. Robb Weiss, Psy. D., BCBA-D
2015
Psychiatric Issues
• Medicate as clinically indicated for
signs/symptoms of diagnosed disorder
• Do not medicate for “behavior” or “sedation”
or “punishment” or convenience of staff
Copyright Dr. Robb Weiss, Psy. D., BCBA-D
2015