As a behavioural consultant, one of the most common phrases used in referral information is that the individual is engaging in a series of behaviors “just to get attention”. Attention has been postulated as a motiva...As a behavioural consultant, one of the most common phrases used in referral information is that the individual is engaging in a series of behaviors “just to get attention”. Attention has been postulated as a motivation for behavior by the most widely used behavioral assessments such as the Motivation Assessment Scale, the Functional Assessment Screening Tool and others. This article will present the concept that people do not want attention, rather they want the things attention brings, such as safety, affection, acceptance and other needs. In a sense, attention is the means to an end, and not the end itself. A conceptualization for identifying the reinforcers sought by people using behavior to get the attention of others is presented within the context of a single case study.展开更多
Despair is defined in the dictionary as the complete loss or absence of hope. Many if not most individuals feel a deep sense of despair, made more intense by the loneliness that is part of their lives. The power diffe...Despair is defined in the dictionary as the complete loss or absence of hope. Many if not most individuals feel a deep sense of despair, made more intense by the loneliness that is part of their lives. The power differentials between those who receive services and those who provide services often intensify this sense of despair and loneliness. It is in that relationship between the powerful and the powerless that loneliness and despair start to build, because there is no bridge between the people who serve and those being served. Those of us who provide services and supports to people in need have been taught to be objective and factual, but facts are only part of the story, the roadway so to speak. The foundations of the bridges between people are found in the emotional connections, the places where the stories of their lives take shape. In order to gain the whole story we must listen to the feelings, where the thematic images behind the words present the story of this person’s life.展开更多
In his original article on human motivation, Abraham Maslow said “The present theory then must be considered to be a suggested program or framework for future research and must stand or fall, not so much on facts ava...In his original article on human motivation, Abraham Maslow said “The present theory then must be considered to be a suggested program or framework for future research and must stand or fall, not so much on facts available or evidence presented, as upon researches yet to be done, researches suggested perhaps, by the questions raised in this paper” ([<a href="#ref1">1], p370). This article endeavours to build on Maslow’s work, incorporating research in the neurobiological impact of childhood trauma which shows that safety is the most fundamental need for all human beings. Indigenous approaches to understanding human needs beyond the ending points of any one individual life and valuing cultural perpetuity are also integrated into this model. The methodology to synthesize this paper is the result of a transdisciplinary approach which values collaboration between disciplines that focus on the biological, social, and psychological factors that interact with each other in the dynamic dance of life. Communication is added as a core need of human beings, with Interdependent Actualization being seen as the capstone of human development. Incorporating the biological framework of the extra-cellular matrix with a visual model that shows the relationships between the parts of a whole, the Matrix of Needs restores the dynamic and interrelated nature of human needs in the same hope Maslow had, that this paper will generate ideas, launch discussions and build a framework for future researchers to better understand what it means to be human, and how to remove the barriers which impede our growth as individuals and as members of the human family.展开更多
The use of coercion to alter behavior in persons with intellectual and other developmental disabilities has a long history. Despite the work of leaders in the development of Positive Behaviour Support (PBS), the use o...The use of coercion to alter behavior in persons with intellectual and other developmental disabilities has a long history. Despite the work of leaders in the development of Positive Behaviour Support (PBS), the use of chemical, mechanical, physical or personal, and environmental restraints continues, resulting in traumatization, physical and emotional harm, and in some instances, death. When coercion is used, the trust between people breaks down, and the lack of trust is reinforced by the power differentials present when coercion occurs. Social justice provides an avenue for rebalancing power and regaining trust, but people affected by disabilities have historically been excluded from theories of social justice and, in some cases, do not fall within the definition of what it means to be a person in the paradigms put forth by a number of different authors. The term non-coercive has been used in an attempt to reframe behavior change theories and practices, but this term describes the absence of negative circumstances and interventions, rather than the presence of positive and affirming interactions which improve the quality of life of all stakeholders.展开更多
The starting point for many research articles on the topic of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) includes the following phrase: “ASD is a neurodevelopmental disorder…” The author agrees that ASD is neurodevelopmental,...The starting point for many research articles on the topic of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) includes the following phrase: “ASD is a neurodevelopmental disorder…” The author agrees that ASD is neurodevelopmental, and calls into question the word “disorder”, proposing that rather than being a disorder, autism and other neurodivergent traits are best understood as a way of utilizing the computational strengths of the human brain to adapt to the environments in which human beings live, learn, work and play. Building on research from the field of computational neuroscience, the author provides an alternative understanding of what it means to be autistic and how to best support people on the autism spectrum to successfully adapt to the world in which we all live.展开更多
文摘As a behavioural consultant, one of the most common phrases used in referral information is that the individual is engaging in a series of behaviors “just to get attention”. Attention has been postulated as a motivation for behavior by the most widely used behavioral assessments such as the Motivation Assessment Scale, the Functional Assessment Screening Tool and others. This article will present the concept that people do not want attention, rather they want the things attention brings, such as safety, affection, acceptance and other needs. In a sense, attention is the means to an end, and not the end itself. A conceptualization for identifying the reinforcers sought by people using behavior to get the attention of others is presented within the context of a single case study.
文摘Despair is defined in the dictionary as the complete loss or absence of hope. Many if not most individuals feel a deep sense of despair, made more intense by the loneliness that is part of their lives. The power differentials between those who receive services and those who provide services often intensify this sense of despair and loneliness. It is in that relationship between the powerful and the powerless that loneliness and despair start to build, because there is no bridge between the people who serve and those being served. Those of us who provide services and supports to people in need have been taught to be objective and factual, but facts are only part of the story, the roadway so to speak. The foundations of the bridges between people are found in the emotional connections, the places where the stories of their lives take shape. In order to gain the whole story we must listen to the feelings, where the thematic images behind the words present the story of this person’s life.
文摘In his original article on human motivation, Abraham Maslow said “The present theory then must be considered to be a suggested program or framework for future research and must stand or fall, not so much on facts available or evidence presented, as upon researches yet to be done, researches suggested perhaps, by the questions raised in this paper” ([<a href="#ref1">1], p370). This article endeavours to build on Maslow’s work, incorporating research in the neurobiological impact of childhood trauma which shows that safety is the most fundamental need for all human beings. Indigenous approaches to understanding human needs beyond the ending points of any one individual life and valuing cultural perpetuity are also integrated into this model. The methodology to synthesize this paper is the result of a transdisciplinary approach which values collaboration between disciplines that focus on the biological, social, and psychological factors that interact with each other in the dynamic dance of life. Communication is added as a core need of human beings, with Interdependent Actualization being seen as the capstone of human development. Incorporating the biological framework of the extra-cellular matrix with a visual model that shows the relationships between the parts of a whole, the Matrix of Needs restores the dynamic and interrelated nature of human needs in the same hope Maslow had, that this paper will generate ideas, launch discussions and build a framework for future researchers to better understand what it means to be human, and how to remove the barriers which impede our growth as individuals and as members of the human family.
文摘The use of coercion to alter behavior in persons with intellectual and other developmental disabilities has a long history. Despite the work of leaders in the development of Positive Behaviour Support (PBS), the use of chemical, mechanical, physical or personal, and environmental restraints continues, resulting in traumatization, physical and emotional harm, and in some instances, death. When coercion is used, the trust between people breaks down, and the lack of trust is reinforced by the power differentials present when coercion occurs. Social justice provides an avenue for rebalancing power and regaining trust, but people affected by disabilities have historically been excluded from theories of social justice and, in some cases, do not fall within the definition of what it means to be a person in the paradigms put forth by a number of different authors. The term non-coercive has been used in an attempt to reframe behavior change theories and practices, but this term describes the absence of negative circumstances and interventions, rather than the presence of positive and affirming interactions which improve the quality of life of all stakeholders.
文摘The starting point for many research articles on the topic of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) includes the following phrase: “ASD is a neurodevelopmental disorder…” The author agrees that ASD is neurodevelopmental, and calls into question the word “disorder”, proposing that rather than being a disorder, autism and other neurodivergent traits are best understood as a way of utilizing the computational strengths of the human brain to adapt to the environments in which human beings live, learn, work and play. Building on research from the field of computational neuroscience, the author provides an alternative understanding of what it means to be autistic and how to best support people on the autism spectrum to successfully adapt to the world in which we all live.
