Question

If a problem behavior occurring during some challenging activity is maintained by attention of staff (SMA-staff attention), modifying the task to make it easier as part of an intervention will not have any impact on problem behavior.

true or false

Answer 1

The statement is false; modifying the task might reduce frustration and decrease problem behaviors, but it may not resolve the issue if the behavior is primarily attention-seeking and does not address the core reason for the behavior.

Step-by-step explanation:

The statement that modifying a task to make it easier as part of an intervention will not have any impact on problem behavior if the problem behavior is maintained by staff attention (SMA-staff attention) is false. When an individual's problem behavior is maintained by attention, the purpose behind their behavior is to receive some form of attention from others. By making a task easier, the individual may experience less frustration or failure, which might decrease the occurrence of the problem behavior even though the primary reinforcer is attention.

However, while task modification may have some effect, it may not fully address the problem if the core reason for the behavior—staff attention—is not also addressed. To respond to strong emotions, it is suggested to use the tools of metacognition to reflect on the source of those emotions and attempt to manage them. This approach encourages self-awareness and can be part of a comprehensive behavior management plan.