A rule that the behavior change prioritized for treatment must be meaningful for the client and relevant individuals in the client’s life.

The necessary components skills of any behavior needed to perform a specific behavior.

Trained behaviors that, when acquired, can result in or lead to the acquisition of new, untrained behaviors.

Providing treatment to promote the development of an adaptive repertoire with behaviors that are maximized by short- and long-term reinforcers and minimized by short- and long-term punishers.

An approach to behavior analytic treatment that eliminates challenging behaviors without building replacement skills in their place.

An approach to behavioral treatment that includes building replacement behaviors when the behavior intervention aims to eliminate challenging behavior.

The building block skills needed for the development of a more complex skill.

Behaviors that, when acquired, result in the individual accessing new environments and, therefore, new stimulus controls and contingencies (i.e., reinforcement).

PTB founder breaks down each of the nine considerations for prioritizing target behaviors.

PTB founder Dana Meller helps connect each of the validities to the validity of this explanation.

Looking to review direct assessment methods? PTB founder Dana Meller gets right to it with this quick explainer.

Test your behavior assessment knowledge with PTB co-founder Dana Meller as she compares and contrasts pivotal behavior vs. behavior cusp, providing several corresponding examples of each, as they relate to identifying the target behaviors that need prioritization for treatment. Refer to BCBA® Task List (5th ed.) Section F-3: Identify and prioritize socially significant behavior-change goals.