209. But We Attend to Them All the Time: Effective Replacement Behaviors for Attention-Seeking

Autism Classroom Resources Podcast: A Podcast for Special Educators

All attention is not equal. We have likely all worked with students who engage in behavior just to get attention, whether it be positive or negative. Even when students are getting what we feel is a lot of attention, they may still engage in attention-seeking behavior because the attention they receive is on our terms, not theirs.

Students often realize that our response to negative behavior is larger and more consistent than our response to positive behavior. This, in turn, reinforces to them that if they want attention, negative behaviors are the way to get it. In this episode, I am breaking down the three advantages negative attention has over positive behavior and ideas of ways you can try to encourage more positive attention-seeking behaviors.

05:56 - How consistency gives negative behavior an advantage over positive behavior

06:51 - Why the magnitude of our response to behaviors matters

07:29 - The impact of learning history on behaviors

09:10 - How increasing the magnitude of our response to positive behaviors can help encourage more positive behavior

13:26 - The importance of consistency in boosting replacement behaviors

Show Notes: http://autismclassroomresources.com/episode209

Resources:

• Watch the Preventing Challenging Behavior Webinar
• Get the Social Stories - Waiting for Attention & Getting a Teacher’s Attention
• Join the Autism Classroom Resources' Free Resource Library
• Get more information about the Special Educator Academy
• Join the Free Facebook Group

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