PSYC 2161 Asg 4.docx

PSYC 2161
Assignment 4
Nov. 17, 2015
Blake Salemink

a.) In these cases of ODD in young adults, the three general basic observations related to baseline behaviors are: antecedents, behaviors and consequences pertaining to the oppositional behaviors.
b.) The client's antecedents included negative reinforcement. The client learned to avoid obedience to unwanted behaviors by refusing to comply. Behavior of the client would escalate to avoid repeated requests. Consequences involved authority figures backing down to avoid client violence.
c.) The interventions included clear and reasonable expectations for the client's behavior backed up with positive reinforcement for compliance with staff and clear consequences for noncompliance and aggressive behaviors.
2.) a.) Negative reinforcement involves learning bad behaviors, when they are allowed by going unpunished. Positive reinforcement involves learning good behaviors, when they are rewarded.
b.) Positive reinforcement can be seen in the regimen where the client worked on "personal hygiene tasks, getting dressed, having breakfast and getting on the van to transport him to work" (Fox. et al 2008). These tasks were rewarded with stickers that earned outings.This was seen in Treatment Phase One. Positive reinforcement was found in the second phase with use of the stickers being replaced with "money and expanded to include not only his a.m. and p.m. routines but also other activities throughout the day" (Fox et. al 2008). Negative reinforcement saw the client's defiance and related aggression escalate in severity with a "rage quality" including throwing chairs and biting in Treatment Phase 2. In Treatment Phase 3 the client responded to firmer behavioral consequences by refusing planned outings and disrupting works activities, thus interfering with other client's quality of life.
3.) a.) Extinction is the gradual disappearance of a conditioned response when it is no longer reinforced (Butcher and Mineka 2014). Punishment is repercussions to respond to unwanted behavior in society. Response cost is the punishment procedure of withdrawal of reinforcers immediately after undesirable or challenging behavior (University of Minnesota).
b.) By Treatment Phase 3 extinction in violence is shown in how "the client responded to the firmer consequences for his oppositional behaviors" (Fox et al. 2008). Extinction in violence slowly occurs as the negative reinforcement ingrained habits diminished. Punishment was shown in the "5 minute time out in a room that was free from distraction and attention from others" shown in Phase 2 (Fox et al. 2008). Response cost is shown in the use of stickers which earned rewards Phase 1 from Fox et al. (2008).
4.) a.) The diagnoses received noted by Fox et al. (2008) are Oppositional Defiance Disorder (ODD), mental retardation and cerebral palsy.
b.) ODD was diagnosed because the client had a long history of "defiance and aggression [that] continued throughout his childhood and adolescence (Fox et al. 2008). "The client had right hemiparesis and his fine motor skills were slightly limited on his right extremity" (Fox et. al. 2008) show evidence for Cerebral Palsy. Mental retardation is shown in his repeated need to be instructed on how to behave.
5.) a.) I think the treatment was fairly moral in its process. The workers were responsible with the client and he was in a group with other patients. He had daily hygiene and was constantly reinforced and had contact with his family. His treatment was needed to progression towards healthy behavior and freedom.
b.) It could be seen as unethical to force the patient to take treatment. He may not have wanted to clean his room or go on outings. The strategies may have put a weight on the client's family as well as the co-patients of the client.
c.) I agree that the treatment strategies were moral because the client needed to be treated for his disorder to move on with his life and enjoy psychological health, normalcy and friendship.

















Reference List
Butcher, Hooley & Mineka. (2014). Abnormal Psychology. (16th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education, Inc.
Fox, R. A., Holtz, C. A., and Barcelona, A. L. (2008). Oppositional Defiant Disorder and Aggression in a Young Man with Mental Retardation: Long-Term Treatment in a Community Based Setting. Clinical Case Studies, 7(1) 42-53
University of Minnesota. (n.d.). Punishment Procedures: Response Cost. Retrieved Nov. 17, 2015, from http://ecbp.cla.umn.edu/fullcourse/Module4/ReactiveStrategies/mrs07.html