Behaviour Support Services
Using the Premack Principle (First/Then) Resource Package
NOTE: This package consists of strategies which may or may not assist in responding to behaviour. It is provided for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice or treatment from a qualified behaviour clinician.
Using the Premack Principle (First/Then)
The ‘Premack Principle’ is a behaviour-analytic strategy, which makes it easier to complete an unpleasant activity by putting a pleasant activity right after it.
Making a preferred activity (computer) conditional on a non-preferred activity (work) will reinforce that particular behaviour (complete your work), making it more likely to occur in the future.
In a nutshell: We set up a “First _________, Then __________” scenario.
Theory
• Some professionals will also refer to this technique as ‘First/Then’, ‘If/Then’, or ‘Low Probability/ High Probability’.
Background
• The Premack Principle is a strategy commonly referred to as “Grandma’s Law”.
• Example: When a Grandmother says to their grandchild, “You need to eat all your vegetables, if you want some chocolate cake”.
• The grandchild sees the yummy cake, and gulps down the peas in order to access the cake.
• Anyone can implement the Premack Principle to increase the likelihood of a particular behaviour occurring.
• The Premack Principle can be used when you want the individual to do something, and they find the behaviour to be undesirable. Such as eating their peas, cleaning their room, taking a shower, putting on a coat before going outside, etc.
• What Grandma is actually doing has a behaviour analytic name, and that name is the ‘Premack Principle’.
• To put it simply – The Premack Principle makes it easier to do an unpleasant activity by putting a pleasant activity right after it.
Using the Premack Principle (First/Then)
1. To motivate an individual to complete a non-preferred activity such as their homework, offer a preferred activity such as video games once that initial task is complete. State, “First finish your homework, Then play video games”.
2. Accessing the reward is conditional upon completing the task. So if the individual refuses to complete homework, what happens? They don’t get to play video games. It’s that simple. The individual is given the power and choice to earn, or lose the reinforcer.
Variations: you can also explain what the reinforcement is first. So if behaviour ‘B’ is playing video games and behaviour ‘A’ is completing homework, you would say “If you want to play video games, you need to finish your homework”. Notice the word “if”.
FIRST THEN
Common Questions:
“Why
• Some caregivers get in the habit of giving demands, the individual resists, and then the caregiver reminds the individual what they will lose. This is a common error many people make.
• Keep the individual’s focus on the reward. If you only state what they should do, all the individual hears is the demand.
• Mention the high probability behaviour (video games) to have the individual focus on what they are getting, and not what they are giving/ have to do.
*Be sure to still use the First/Then sequence though!
• By sharing the sequence of events required, it gives social understanding and is easier to motivate an individual to complete a non-preferred task.
use First/Then” or “Why does it matter which one I say first?”
Important Points
DO ... understand the Premack Principle in order to avoid setting yourself up for failure when you present a demand
A quick tip is if you find the words IF or FIRST coming out of your mouth as you are giving a demand, stop and think: “Have I clearly shared the reinforcement that is available?”
If you have not, then what is the individual working for? and What does the individual earn for cooperating with your request?
DON’T ... state what the individual will lose, as no one likes to focus on the negative. We all like doing things to get something pleasant. As much as possible, ensure success by being aware of how you present requests or demands.
Example: Don’t eat your peas and you don’t get ice cream.
DON’T ... create situations where it will be likely that the individual will refuse to cooperate or power-struggle
Remember: Every request that comes out of your mouth has the potential of being followed, or being ignored.
If we are more careful with presenting requests and demands, then we can help the individual be successful and receive reinforcement much more readily!
Examples: First ... Then ...
Put your shoes on then you can go outside Do your homework then you can play video games
Clean your room then you can help make cupcakes
Eat your peas then you can have dessert
FIRST FIRST
THEN THEN
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