As a parent of a child with autism, you’ve likely used “Grandma’s Rule” without even realizing it. Visiting the dentist’s office with your autistic child, before stopping for ice cream, or getting a haircut before going to the science museum are classic examples.
Formally known as the Premack Principle, it was developed in 1965 by psychologist David Premack and provides crucial insight into human behavior. It’s designed to motivate children and adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) to complete less desirable activities before finishing a preferred one.
A key strategy in ABA therapy (Applied Behavior Analysis), which is considered the best treatment for people on the spectrum, the Premack Principle leverages a child’s favorite activities to increase participation in necessary but less desirable tasks.
Are you curious about how Heartlinks uses the Premack Principle in our therapy sessions and how you can apply it with your autistic child at home?
Read on to learn more!
What is the Premack Principle?
Also known as the relativity theory of reinforcement, the Premack Principle states that a high-probability behavior can positively or negatively reinforce a low-probability behavior. Simply put, engaging in a desirable activity serves as a reward for completing a less desirable task. Though this principle is often applied in ABA therapy, it can be used in many contexts, including parenting, education, and self-motivation.
How does the Premack Principle work?
The Premack Principle leverages a person’s natural tendencies to prioritize enjoyable activities. A preference assessment helps identify high- and low-probability behaviors (less preferred activity), allowing caregivers and therapists to motivate and increase compliance by making the preferred activity contingent on completing the less preferred one.
To apply the Premack Principle, the following factors should be considered:;
- Identify the desired or preferred behavior to reinforce.
- Determine a preferred activity that the child enjoys and will readily engage in.
- Communicate that the preferred activity is contingent on completing the less preferred task.
- Remain consistent and ensure the reward immediately follows the task to strengthen the association.
The Premack Principle & ABA Therapy
Historically, ABA therapy has been the most common therapeutic approach for helping children with autism develop independence and self-sufficiency. The Premack Principle is key in this process, leveraging preferred activities (high-probability behaviors) as reinforcement for less preferred tasks (low-probability behaviors).
A certified ABA therapist, whether an RBT (registered behavior therapist) or BCBA (board-certified behavior analyst), uses this method to motivate children to complete necessary but less preferred tasks (e.g., following instruction, completing homework, or engaging in social interactions) by rewarding them with access to preferred activities (e.g., playtime, screen time, or a favorite toy).
This structured reinforcement method helps increase compliance, build independence, and teach functional skills, making the learning process more engaging and effective for children in ABA therapy.
What are some examples of the Premack Principle?
Example 1: Reducing hand flapping using discrete trial training
Scenario:
Your child with autism frequently flaps their hands when excited, affecting their focus and distracting their classmates. The therapist encourages the child to adopt a more socially acceptable approach using discrete trial training (DTT) and the Premack Principle.
Steps:
- Conduct a preference assessment: The therapist knows your child loves playing with a fidget toy (high-probability behavior).
- DTT Implementation:
- SD (Discriminative Stimulus): The therapist says “hands down” to the child.
- Response: The child keeps their hands still.
- Reinforcement: The child is given immediate access to the fidget toy.
- Correction: If the child continues flapping, the therapist will withhold the toy and repeat the SD and prompts.
- Progression: Gradually increase wait time before reinforcement, using fading prompts to help the child achieve independence.
Outcome:
The child learns to reduce hand flapping by following the discriminative stimulus and earning preferred rewards.
This approach using the Premack Principle could be used for any other type of repetitive behavior including stimming, spinning or even finger flicking.
Example 2: Redirecting Aggressive Behaviors
Scenario: Your autistic child engages in aggressive and sometimes harmful behaviors, such as hitting, biting, and throwing objects when they become frustrated. The therapist aims to redirect this behavior using modeling, shaping, and the Premack Principle to reinforce positive alternatives.
Steps:
- Identify Triggers and Preferred Activities: Your child typically hits when denied access to a toy. At the same time, they enjoy playing with blocks (a high-probability behavior).
- Modeling a replacement behavior: When the child becomes frustrated, the therapist models an alternative response such as using words or a visual cue (e.g., I need help).
- If the child attempts this instead of hitting, they receive immediate positive reinforcement through praise (e.g., access to their favorite blocks).
- Shaping the positive behavior: This is reinforced if your child attempts to use a replacement behavior (e.g., reaching for a visual card instead of hitting). As the treatment progresses, the expectations for the child will increase (e.g., the child must verbalize “help” before earning reinforcement).
- Applying the Premack Principle: Wait until the child engages in a low-probability behavior (e.g., asking for help calmly) before gaining access to a high-probability behavior (playing with blocks).
- If aggression occurs, access to the preferred activities is temporarily withheld, reinforcing that hitting does not achieve the desired outcome.
Outcome:
Through consistent reinforcement, shaping, modeling and strategic use of the Premack Principle, the child learns to substitute the aggression with a functional communication strategy, improving emotional regulation and social interactions.
Applying the Premack Principle
The Premack Principle has wide-ranging practical applications in a variety of different domains, including the following.
Education
The classroom is an excellent setting for applying the Premack Principle. Whether your child participates in ABA therapy at school or the teacher and parents are working together to help the student in the classroom, this principle can serve as an excellent motivator.
For example, a teacher can use a preferred activity such as playing with sensory toys, to encourage their autistic student to apply their newly learned social skills with their classmates. That might mean asking their fellow students questions and actively making direct eye contact when speaking. If this principle is applied correctly, teachers can create incentives to encourage students to engage in desired behaviors they might otherwise not.
In the Home
Your child’s RBT or BCBA therapist has been providing in-home ABA therapy to teach your child personal hygiene skills using various methods, such as social stories and the task analysis. Brushing teeth has always been challenging, often leading to tantrums and meltdowns. However, by correctly applying the Premack Principle, you can encourage cooperation by allowing your child to engage in their preferred sensory seeking activities, such as playing in their sandbox after brushing their teeth. This approach helps reinforce positive behavior while making the routine more manageable.
Heartlinks + Premack Principle= Success
Yes, the Premack Principle is a powerful tool in ABA therapy. It helps children with autism engage in necessary but less preferred activities by reinforcing them with more enjoyable tasks. Whether in therapy sessions, at home or in the classroom, this motivational strategy encourages independence, self-regulation and compliance.
At Heartlinks ABA, we integrate this principle into our personalized therapy plans, ensuring that each child receives the motivation and support they need to succeed.
Interested in learning how Heartlinks ABA can help your child thrive? Contact us today.