ABA or Applied Behavioral Analysis is a leading therapy in the behavioral treatment of people on the autism spectrum. The history of ABA begins with behaviorism and has evolved into an individualized approach that improves social skills and cognition among patients. Currently, ABA is used in clinical treatment as well as in educational centers and is effective for young and adult patients alike.
ABA is a widely used therapy for autistic children today. To understand more, explore the history of applied behavior analysis with the Flywheel Centers therapists, who provide ABA treatment.
Origins of ABA – An ABA Background
The history of applied behavioral analysis begins in the early twentieth century with the development of the theory of behaviorism. No one person can really be considered the applied behavior analysis founder. The following are influential researchers in the field of observing and influencing human behavior, and their theories led to the development of ABA.
Edward L. Thorndike – Early Influence on ABA
The work of Edward L. Thorndike (1874-1949) influenced the history of applied behavioral analysis through his Law of Effect, which established a connection between behaviors and consequences. Thorndike found that behaviors could be affected and predicted depending on whether they were followed by a positive or negative outcome. This is called operant conditioning, which is a means of encouraging behavior by altering the result of the behavior through reward or punishment.
Thorndike reached his conclusions through experiments that involved putting animals in puzzle boxes and evaluating how long it took them to solve the puzzle and reach the reward. He discovered that, when properly motivated, the animal would eventually solve the puzzle. Conversely, if there were no positive stimulus, the animal would not be motivated to find a solution. From these experiments, Thorndike concluded that positive consequences lead to a repeat in certain behaviors, and these behaviors won’t be repeated if outcomes are unpleasant.
John Watson – The First Behaviorist
John Watson (1878-1958) was a controversial figure who contributed significantly to behaviorism and was the first scientist to call himself a behaviorist. He is best known for an infamous “Little Albert” experiment during which he attempted to condition fear in a subject through classical conditioning.
Watson’s work can be compared to Pavlov’s famous study of giving a dog treats to elicit certain behaviors, but Watson considered Little Albert’s responses voluntary, whereas Pavlov mainly dealt with reflexive responses. He also concluded that emotions were based more on one’s environment than on individual personality. An application of Watson’s theory would involve studying the environment of the subject to discover the source of fear. Watson believed that emotions were developed and conditioned through the manipulation of factors in one’s environment rather than on an individual’s disposition.
B.F. Skinner – Applied Behavior Analysis in Everyday Life
BF Skinner (1904-1990) was a popular researcher who is sometimes referred to as the “Father of Behavioral Analysis.” He was an important figure in the history of ABA and was heavily influenced by Thorndike’s operant behavioral theory. Watson believed that just as a stimulus evokes a response, a reward influences the repetition of the response. Although, like Thorndike, his early experiments were with animals, he later adapted his theories for safe application with human patients in hospitals and eventually in outpatient settings.
Skinner developed Radical Behaviorism, which posits that a person’s environment is a greater influence on behavior than a pre-existing emotional or psychological state. Skinner believed that classical conditioning, such as Pavlov’s experiments, didn’t tell the whole story about human behavior. Instead, the key to understanding a person’s behavior was to look at the causes and consequences.
Skinner and ABA today
Skinner became well-known partly because he didn’t merely focus on research, but on applying those concepts to treatment, education, and everyday life. This is why Skinner plays a crucial role in the history of applied behavioral therapy – because he tested his theories in a clinical setting.
In the 1960s and 70s, Skinner implemented his theories in psychiatric institutions with the aim of discouraging destructive behaviors, such as disrespectful treatment of staff. He used reinforcement and rewards to influence behavior and his theories are still implemented today.
Ole Ivar Lovaas – Applied Behavior Analysis for Autism
ABA therapy history evolved with Ole Ivar Lovaas’ (1927-2010) application of Applied Behavioral Therapy to the treatment of autism. The Lovaas Method employs operant conditioning methods to improve the ability of those with autism to function socially.
Lovaas’s research applied ABA treatment to autistic children and was published in 1987 after the subjects had been involved in the program for six years. The results demonstrated a 90% improvement in social skills and cognition among participants. The study was repeated in 1993, and it was shown that the subjects retained these skills into adolescence.
Lovaas used positive reinforcement, changes in the environment, and rewards to motivate and influence desired behavior.
How ABA Has Evolved
ABA has proven its effectiveness for decades, yet it has also evolved to meet the needs of its patients. The following are ways in which the history of ABA has shown marked changes from its earliest version to modern applications.
Modern ABA:
- Focuses less on conformity
- Rejects a one-size-fits-all approach
- Is not confined to clinical settings
- Is flexible in its methods and takes into account feedback from patients and parents
Early in the history of ABA, methods focused on a one-size-fits-all approach to care, relied on robotic responses, and included the goal of encouraging the patient to conform to a rigid social standard.
Modern ABA treatments focus less on conformity to social norms and more on reaching the patient in the environment that is most natural and comfortable for them. Therapeutic exercises can be done at home, at school, or even in outdoor settings.
Because treatment is no longer confined to formal, clinical settings, parents and caretakers can also apply ABA techniques when taking a walk with the child, during outings such as family trips, or even when walking the dog or while reading a story before bedtime.
More Ways Modern ABA Has Advanced
Another way in which ABA has evolved is by being incorporated into play and activities that are familiar to the child.
ABA has also developed in the sense that it is focused on discovering the most effective way to treat an individual patient. To create greater flexibility and to determine what works well and what doesn’t, ABA research is focused on interviews with those who have received the treatment for feedback on methods.
For instance, early ABA methods focused on extended eye contact between the practitioner and patient, which many patients have said was unbearable and ultimately ineffective. Therefore, direct eye contact was dropped as an essential part of ABA therapy for those who find it uncomfortable.
Modern ABA methods have evolved considerably from their earliest phases in the history of ABA, which focused on coercion, insistence on rigid and almost robotic responses, and the use of punishment as a negative motivating factor.
The focus is now on fostering a patient’s individuality and requiring practitioners to abide by a strict ethical code to avoid any potential harm to the patient. For instance, therapists are more likely to consult with the patient and the parent before trying to correct mannerisms that are unusual and yet are not a social impediment but rather arise out of the patient’s individuality.
Timeline of The History of ABA Therapy
Below is a timeline chronicling the developments in ABA therapy.
- Early 20th Century: The work of B.F. Skinner and other behaviorists laid the foundation for ABA therapy. The development of theories such as operant conditioning, which connects behavior to the concept of reinforcement, influenced the development of ABA.
- 1960s: Dr. O. Ivar Lovaas begins developing and applying the “Lovaas Method” for using applied behavioral concepts to the treatment of autism in young people and developing their communication and cognition skills through rewards and reinforcement.
- 1968: The establishment of the JABA (Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis (JABA)) was crucial to the development of ABA therapy through the publication of studies and the description of effective ABA methods.
- 1970s: The expansion of ABA programs occurred during this decade, and the emphasis was on providing comprehensive treatment to those with autism. The goals of this treatment included the development of skills such as effective communication, self-care, socialization, and education.
- 1970s: The Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB) was founded to create formal certification of ABA therapists to ensure consistent standards and evaluate the competence of professionals.
- 1980s: Dr. Lovaas’ studies of early intensive behavioral intervention (EIBI) are published, demonstrating the effectiveness of ABA therapy for the treatment of young patients with Autism spectrum disorder
- 1990s: Research continues to validate the effectiveness of ABA therapy for not only patients with Autism spectrum disorder but also those with other conditions and wider patient populations and demographics
- 2000s: Technology plays an increasingly crucial role in the delivery of treatment of patients remotely. Telehealth, websites, communication platforms, and applications allow therapists to deliver care to patients in distant locations.
- Present: ABA is still evolving to reach a variety of patients and is incorporated into diverse fields, including education, therapy, and sports training. The treatment has been proven to provide safe, individualized care to patients.
ABA – An Effective, Patient-Centered Treatment for Autism
Today, ABA is the leading treatment for autism. The history of ABA has evolved from old-fashioned formal behaviorism to flexible treatment that can be incorporated into a patient’s familiar environment. Professionals take parent and patient needs into account when custom-designing an ABA program and can give caregivers the tools to improve the patient’s coping skills and communication.
Do You Know Someone Who Might Benefit From ABA?
Flywheel partners with parents and patients to develop language and adaptive behavior skills as well as improved social functioning. Treatment regimes fit any schedule with day, after-hours and at-home services. Flywheel Centers select qualified, compassionate, and knowledgeable professionals who make their patients their top priority. The one-on-one therapy using evidence-based practices allows patients to develop functional and social skills that will last a lifetime.
Contact Flywheel Centers today for information on our ABA treatment options.
