target behavior

Target Behavior
Name
Institution
Abstract
Behaviors of people and animals can be modified to reflect what the source person wants depending on the form of reinforcement used. Operant conditioning has been practiced in many occasions and different places including schools, homes, dog training camps, and other areas particularly involved in training individuals. The initial step involves the identification of the target behavior one finds appealing if undertaken. This is followed by the baseline frequency data where data is collected on the target person or animal before the operant conditioning. This allows noting the normal behavior and how often it occurs before finally carrying out operant conditioning. This essay involves getting the child brush his teeth at least three times a day as a target behavior. Baseline frequency data indicates that apparently, the boy only brushes the teeth once in a day. Having a reinforce such as moving the toothpaste and toothbrush closer to him after every meal makes him brush teeth more often thus achieving target behavior.
Keywords: Operant conditioning, target group, reinforcement, data, and baseline frequency.
Target Behavior
Part 1
My target behavior is to get my child brush his teeth at least thrice in a day. His name is Grey in 4th grade at the age of 8 years. Through this target behavior, I intend to make him get used to brushing his teeth after every meal, that is; in the morning, midday, and in the evening before going to bed.Part 2
I had to wait until it was the weekend when my child had not reported to school to make the observation.

I prepared him some favorite meals to keep him around the house to make a close look at how often he brushed his teeth for that day. I observed him from morning the time he woke up to evening the time he went to bed. Throughout the entire day, my son Grey only brushed his teeth once, and that was in the morning. The observation was made even at the time the boy took his several meals which introduced biasness. I find the situation biased since eating meals prompts one to brush the teeth.
Part 3
Having made the observation, I had to reinforce the target behavior by putting the toothbrush and the toothpaste to the table close to where he was seated immediately after the midday and evening meals. With this operant conditioning, the boy brushed his teeth thrice in a single day. The target behavior of the child increased as he now found it easy to access both the toothbrush and the toothpaste. Escape conditioning was applied when both the brush and the paste were introduced immediately after meals when still within the table. I found the reinforcement useful to use to achieve the target behavior (Wolf, Risley, & Mees, 2011). However, I would have done it differently by brushing my teeth first whenever my son is around after meals. Thus, I find it practically right that with the effective reinforce, it is easy to achieve the target behavior through operant conditioning.
Reference
Wolf, M., Risley, T., & Mees, H. (2011). Application of operant conditioning procedures to the behavior problems of an autistic child. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 1(2-4), 305-312.