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Establishing operations are things that make a particular behavior more or less likely to happen by changing how much a person wants something. For example, a child may be more likely to ask for water if they are thirsty.
Why are Establishing Operations important for parents to understand?
Knowing Establishing Operations helps parents better predict and guide their child’s behavior based on their current environment or state.
How can rewards be used effectively with Establishing Operations?
Rewards can be timed with a child’s changing motivations, making them more effective in promoting positive behaviors.
How can visual schedules assist with Establishing Operations?
Visual schedules can provide cues, aligning with a child’s motivations and encouraging desired behaviors at specific times.
Establishing operations are environmental events or conditions that temporarily alter the effectiveness of a reinforcer or punisher and change the frequency of behavior associated with that consequence. An example is how food deprivation increases the value of food as a reinforcer, thereby increasing food-seeking behaviors.
These concepts are applied in various ways to support children with special needs:
| Application | Example |
|---|---|
| Behavior Plans | Using favorite activities as rewards |
| Therapy Sessions | Scheduling sessions after rest |
| Daily Routines | Providing snacks before challenging tasks |
Recognizing and using establishing operations can help parents and therapists support kids more effectively.
This post was originally published on August 20, 2023. It was updated on May 24, 2024.
