When a child throws a tantrum, it’s a parent’s instinct to either coddle or discipline. It’s not, however, natural to ignore the child’s bad behavior.
But professionals participating in the 33rd annual Association for Behavior Analysis International Convention know that not reacting to a problem behavior, like a temper tantrum, is the best way to problem solve.
The convention, held at the Manchester Grand Hyatt in Downtown San Diego, included more than 1,500 presentations over the Memorial Day weekend, May 25 through May 29.
Contributors came to the event from 40 countries across the world to share their findings in behavioral analysis.
Presentation topics ranged from early diagnosis of autism to using animal training techniques on humans.
Amy Sutherland, a New York Times columnist and author, presented her lecture, titled “Behavior Analysis Goes to the Zoo.” While Sutherland was working on her book, “Kicked, Bitten and Scratched: Life and Lessons at the Premier School for Exotic Animal Trainers,” she saw how techniques used to train exotic animals could be used on humans, specifically her husband.
“Eventually it dawned on me that if trainers can work such wonders with “¦ killer whales, why wouldn’t their techniques apply to another species, humans?” Sutherland wondered.
With a quick wit and biting humor, Sutherland explained how her husband had the bad habit of misplacing his keys.
As he stomped about the house searching, Sutherland would join in the hunt, often causing her husband’s anger and frustration to escalate into an all-out war of words between the two.
At the training school students were taught not to react, positively or negatively, to a problem behavior.
The next time her husband lost his keys Sutherland tried out her new techniques. As her husband searched for those perpetually lost keys Sutherland ignored him and continued to wash the dishes.
With his anger settled at a low boil, her husband found his keys, and Sutherland walked away without the battle.
“It’s not a quick fix,” Sutherland said. “But it’s magic”¦and it is low tech. It doesn’t get better than this.”
Another presentation tackled an issue San Diego communities continue to struggled with: “Situational and Behavioral Factors Related to Alcohol Consumption in High-Risk Drinking Environments.”
With the Beach Alcohol Task Force coming to an end and preparing to make recommendations to the city regarding laws restricting alcohol in beach communities, the presentation held some interesting discoveries regarding large gatherings that involve alcohol.
While the presentation did not focus on beach drinking, it did analyze drinking behaviors at college football tailgating parties, proms and fraternity parties.
Interestingly, the researchers studying tailgate parties at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University discovered that the more food served at such parties the more the attendants consumed alcohol.
Many residents, as evidenced by comments made at meetings such as the Pacific Beach Special Events Committee, which hears all special events permit applications in Pacific Beach with special concern regarding alcohol, are under the impression that food helps to curb the amount of alcohol consumed and level of intoxication.
“The more food we saw there [at the tailgate party] actually the higher BAC (blood alcohol content) levels they [the attendants] were getting,” said Elise Drake a researcher in the study.
The study of fraternity parties at Virginia Tech showed that food did not affect the amount of alcohol consumed.
Other findings concluded that the use of a theme, such as a toga-themed party or ’80s-themed party, did not have an effect on the amount of alcohol consumed.
“Students are partying like rock stars, no matter what kind of party they’re at,” said Kent Glindemann, who presented the findings. “What we’re finding more and more is students are drinking with the expressed intent to get drunk. That’s their goal. It’s not to socialize and have fun. That’s secondary.”
While researchers at Virginia Tech admit that there are limitations to their study ” they only analyzed students at Virginia Tech ” they feel that the results raise questions about alcohol consumption at all college campuses and college communities across the nation, including San Diego.
For more information regarding the alcohol study at Virginia Tech contact Steven Clarke, director of Virginia Tech’s College Alcohol Abuse Prevention Center at [email protected] or (540) 231-2233.
To read Sutherland’s column, “What Shamu Taught Me About a Happy Marriage,” visit www.nytimes.com.
For more information on the Association for Behavior Analysis International visit www.abainternational.org.