Distinguish ABA from other psychological fields by identifying which of the articles is behavior analytic and which is not, and provide an explanation for your choice.
Identify which of the seven dimensions of ABA are present in the behavior analytic article.
Analyze why the other article is not behavior analytic. How do you know the seven dimensions are not present?
Differentiate ABA from the other branches of behavior analysis, by explaining the differences and connections between ABA, behaviorism, and EBA.
Which aspects are shared and which aspects make them different from each other?
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
Distinguishing ABA from Other Psychological Fields
Behavior Analysis is a distinct field within psychology that focuses on understanding and modifying behavior through scientific principles. Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is a specific application of these principles to address socially significant behaviors. To distinguish ABA from other psychological fields, let’s examine two articles – one behavior analytic and one not – and identify the presence or absence of the seven dimensions of ABA.
Behavior Analytic Article:
Article Title: “The Effect of Reinforcement Schedules on Academic Performance in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder”
Explanation: This article is behavior analytic as it focuses on studying the effects of reinforcement schedules on academic performance, a core aspect of ABA. The research likely involves systematic data collection, experimental manipulation of variables, and the use of behavior change techniques rooted in behavior analytic principles.
Seven Dimensions of ABA Present:
1. Applied: The study addresses a socially significant behavior – academic performance in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
2. Behavioral: The focus is on observable behaviors (academic performance) and how they can be influenced by reinforcement schedules.
3. Analytical: The research employs experimental designs to analyze the relationship between reinforcement schedules and academic performance.
4. Technological: The interventions and procedures used are clearly defined and replicable.
5. Conceptually Systematic: The study is based on principles and theories of behavior analysis.
6. Effective: The research aims to produce meaningful and positive changes in academic performance.
7. Generality: The findings are intended to have broad applicability beyond the specific context of the study.
Non-Behavior Analytic Article:
Article Title: “The Influence of Parenting Styles on Adolescent Anxiety Levels”
Explanation: This article may not be behavior analytic as it does not necessarily focus on behavior change techniques or the application of operant conditioning principles. While it addresses an important topic, parenting styles and adolescent anxiety, it does not inherently align with the core principles of ABA.
Absence of Seven Dimensions of ABA:
1. Applied: The focus may not be on addressing socially significant behaviors in a direct, behavior-oriented manner.
2. Behavioral: The emphasis may be more on psychological constructs like parenting styles and anxiety rather than observable behaviors.
3. Analytical: The study might not involve experimental analysis of behavior or direct measurement of behavioral outcomes.
4. Technological: Interventions or strategies related to parenting styles may not be clearly defined or empirically validated.
5. Conceptually Systematic: The study may not be grounded in the principles and theories of behavior analysis.
6. Effective: While the research may aim to understand relationships, it may not focus on directly changing behaviors for positive outcomes.
7. Generality: The findings may have implications for parenting strategies but may not aim for broad generalizability beyond the specific study sample.
Differentiating ABA from Other Branches
ABA vs. Behaviorism:
– Similarities: Both ABA and Behaviorism focus on the principles of operant conditioning, reinforcement, and behavior change techniques.
– Differences: ABA applies these principles to address specific behaviors in real-world settings, while Behaviorism is a broader theoretical perspective on how behavior is learned and influenced by environmental factors.
ABA vs. EBA (Experimental Behavior Analysis):
– Similarities: Both ABA and EBA emphasize experimental research methods, data-driven decision-making, and the systematic application of behavior analytic principles.
– Differences: ABA is more focused on applied settings and practical interventions to address individual behaviors, while EBA often involves basic research to understand fundamental principles of behavior.
In summary, ABA stands out from other psychological fields by its emphasis on applying behavior analytic principles to address socially significant behaviors through systematic assessment, intervention, and evaluation. Understanding the unique features of ABA compared to behaviorism and experimental behavior analysis helps clarify the scope and applications of behavior analysis in different contexts.
