We love finding cartoons that show behavior analysis in action. We found a cartoon on another behavior analyst’s website. However, the cartoon originated from The Oatmeal. In the cartoon, you see a cat engaging in all sorts of great behavior in order to gain attention from his/her owner who is engrossed in the internet. After multiple attempts to gain attention using appropriate behavior, the cat finally decides to engage in challenging–or inappropriate– behavior (furniture scratching) in order to get attention. Surprise! This inappropriate behavior immediately resulted in attention from
his/her owner.
I’m hoping that I can convince Matthew Inman to create a similar cartoon with humans. You see, the images he created, brilliantly show how challenging behavior is maintained. Children engage in a number of behaviors, many of which are ignored by parents or teachers. Still longing for attention, children will then engage in mild challenging behavior (e.g., fighting, acting out) to which parents and teachers promptly respond with negative attention. Parents and teachers justify this by saying things like, “We can’t let them fight” or “It’s not appropriate to run in the house” or even “I was trying to teach!”
So, our advice for you on this fine Friday is to take a moment to reinforce your children or students (or perhaps even your partner) so that they do not have to engage in challenging behavior in order to get your attention.
Happy Friday!
Applied Behavioral Strategies 
Reminds me of the story I heard about the woman who made her husband an apple pie whenever he helped around the house without being asked. She never told him the pie was a reward for his behavior; she just “happened” to make it when he pitched in. Before she knew it, he was doing dishes, vacuuming, even washing windows, all without being asked. And, of course, they were up to their elbows in pies. *grin*
Oh yeah! I’d make pie for that!! oh wait, Norm already does all that stuff too….Hmmmmm wonder what else I could do 😉
It uses contingent problem solving, which tries to understand the reasons for challenging behavior, rather than eliminating it.
Yes, before we can address behavior, we must first understand why it is occurring.
 In the beginning, maybe I did give in to such things, but then I started to realize that I could fight for something else.
Yes! many parents do give in. We always say, “do not cave”