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Treating Childhood Psychopathology and Developmental Disabilities pp 29–54Cite as

Applied Behavior Analysis And The Treatment of Childhood Psychopathology And Developmental Disabilities

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This chapter provides a description and examples of the use of applied behavior analysis (ABA) in the treatment of childhood psychopathology and developmental disabilities. This task is a daunting one given that many of the single topics that are discussed in the following pages can, and have, served as topics for entire chapters and texts. This limitation means we are not able to delve into each topic in a comprehensive manner. However, we do provide an overview of the important topics related to ABA and its use in the treatment of childhood psychopathology and developmental disabilities. In addition, we provide a discussion of literature-based examples for these ABA-based treatments, brief examples of generalization of treatment effects, and discussion of effectiveness.

It is important to note that ABA is not a single treatment. It is more accurate to say that ABA represents an approach to treatment as opposed to a specific type of treatment. This approach includes a number of treatment strategies that can be used to address the behavioral symptoms associated with childhood psychopathology and the behavioral challenges associated with developmental disabilities. As an approach to treatment, ABA relies on arranging response—consequence relationships (including positive and negative reinforcement and punishment), schedule of reinforcement effects, and antecedent manipulations (including stimulus-control procedures and altering establishing operations) to reduce problem behavior and increase appropriate behavior.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Disabilities and Development, Division of Pediatric Psychology, Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Iowa, Iowa City, 52242, IA

    Joel E. Ringdahl & Terry S. Falcomata

Authors
  1. Joel E. Ringdahl
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  2. Terry S. Falcomata
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Correspondence to Joel E. Ringdahl .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, 70803

    Johnny L. Matson  & Michael L. Matson  & 

  2. Department of Psychology, University of West Florida, Pensacola, FL, 32514-5751

    Frank Andrasik

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Ringdahl, J.E., Falcomata, T.S. (2009). Applied Behavior Analysis And The Treatment of Childhood Psychopathology And Developmental Disabilities. In: Matson, J.L., Andrasik, F., Matson, M.L. (eds) Treating Childhood Psychopathology and Developmental Disabilities. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-09530-1_2

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