Chained Reinforcement Program: What Does It Consist Of?
Reinforcement is an essential tool in behaviorism, used in different disciplines such as behavioral therapy, animal training and education. In this sense, it is relevant to understand how this phenomenon works, in order to apply it effectively.
Within the different forms of application of reinforcement, chained reinforcement programs stand out, since they generally show good, long-term results. That is why in this article I focus on this behaviorist technique. Below I describe what reinforcement is, what a chained reinforcement program is and what uses it has.
A reinforcement is any event or element that increases the probability that a specific behavior will be repeated in the future. This concept is central to Skinner’s theory of operant conditioning, along with punishment (which would be the opposite phenomenon, decreasing the probability of a behavior appearing).
There are two types of reinforcement. The first is positive reinforcement: when a pleasant stimulus is given after having performed a certain action, which increases the probability of repeating it in the future. For example, you give a dog a cookie after it has sat down when you asked it to.
This makes it easier that when you ask him to sit again, he will do so in the future (waiting for the cookie). Reinforcers can be something tangible, such as food, toys or money, or a social reward, such as a smile, receiving a thank you or a compliment.
The second type is negative reinforcement: a stimulus that is aversive is eliminated thanks to having performed a behavior, so that it also increases the probability that the action is repeated. For example, a child gets good grades, and his parents decide to take away his obligation to wash the dishes for a week.
As you can see, The positive quality refers to giving or adding, and the negative quality refers to taking away or subtracting, not to whether it is good or bad, pleasant or unpleasant. Aside from these types, reinforcement can be used in different ways and for different goals. To acquire more complex behaviors, reinforcement programs are used.
A chained reinforcement program consists of teaching a complete sequence of different actions, offering a final reinforcer when performed. It is a more sophisticated technique within operant conditioning itself. It is used to teach a complex behavior that cannot be learned in a single step.
An example of this is getting dressed: when getting dressed, you put on different clothes, and with each of them you need to perform a different action (put on the garment, fasten buttons, zip up, tie shoelaces…). Each step in the sequence functions as a reinforcer of the previous action, and serves as a signal to indicate what the next step is.
There are three elements that make up what the chained reinforcement program is. One of them is the sequence or chain of behaviors itself, which are all the individual actions (such as buttoning the shirt) that make up the behavior that you want to teach (in the example, getting dressed).
The other two are the reinforcers as such. There are intermediate reinforcers, which are those given after each step of the sequence, which helps maintain motivation to want to continue moving forward and learn the complete sequence.
And on the other hand, we can find the final reinforcer, which is the main one we want to obtain and which is only given once the entire chain has been completed. It has to be desired or attractive enough so that you can maintain motivation throughout the entire sequence to reach the end.
Steps of the chained reinforcement program
To carry out the chained reinforcement program, a series of steps need to be carried out. The first is to break down in detail the sequence of actions in each individual behavior, so that they are simpler, more specific and manageable so that they can be learned. This step is known as task analysis.
The next is the link of behaviors, which consists of chaining the different actions in a logical and ordered sequence, which will always be repeated in the same order. To integrate actions into the chain, they are first performed separately and reinforced, until they are mastered individually.
Once learned separately, it is integrated into the sequence. When the individual learns what action signals when he has to perform the new behavior, and masters it again, he can move on to the next action. And finally, the last step is to present the final reinforcer, once the entire sequence has been completed.
Types of chained reinforcement
In turn, there are two ways to carry out the chained reinforcement program. The first is forward chaining. We begin by teaching the first behavior in the sequence, give an intermediate reinforcer, and continue practicing and reinforcing until it is mastered.
Once learned, the second step is added, and so on until the complete chain of actions is learned. This method achieves good results, because it maintains the usual order of the sequence. The second is backward chaining. It is done the same as the previous one, but in reverse, starting with the last action in the chain. It is reinforced until it is mastered, and that is when we move on to the previous behavior, the penultimate one. So on, until you learn the first action, that is, the complete sequence. The benefit of this way is that it always ends with the final reinforcer, which helps motivate more.
What are the benefits of the chained reinforcement program?
Although the chained reinforcement program has to face various challenges, such as careful analysis of the behavior to be learned, care to choose the appropriate reinforcer, time and patience, it also has many uses and advantages. It allows you to learn complex skills and behaviors that cannot be acquired at once or with a single step.
In addition, the sequence, being organized in steps, offers a clear structure that facilitates gradual learning. And above all, it is characterized by continuous reinforcement, because by having intermediate reinforcers, motivation can be maintained throughout the learning process. Therefore, it is used in different areas.
Chained reinforcement can be used as an academic teaching method for complex knowledge or skills. For example, to learn to solve mathematical problems or to write essays. It can also be used to establish a routine within the educational center itself, such as sitting down and taking out the different materials for each class.
It is really not only useful for teaching children (and adults), but also for animals. It can be used, for example, to train dogs with aggression problems or psychological trauma, so that they can go outside and socialize without difficulties or problems, or stay at home calmly.
2. Psychological therapy
I have already mentioned that chained reinforcement, and reinforcement in general, is a strategy used in operant behaviorism. Behaviorism is a psychology model, which is characterized by understanding and analyzing behavior based on the responses given to certain stimuli.
This psychology model is still used today, and has more than proven effectiveness. The chained reinforcement program is used especially for certain psychological problems and for specific objectives.
Among them, behavior modification stands out, which is about developing new, more beneficial behaviors and reducing problematic behaviors. It is also widely used for the treatment of autism, since it allows teaching social skills and strategies for daily life to people who have this disorder.
3. Physical and neurological rehabilitation
The chained reinforcement program allows people who have suffered an accident or serious injury (muscle or bone breaks, neurovascular accidents, etc.) to recover essential skills for daily life.
In this way, they will regain the strength of their muscles by exercising them, as well as re-establish the neural connections lost due to the injury, by relearning the skills. This way they will be able to gain independence and resume their daily lives.
