Ask An Expert: Susan Friedman & LLP Course Graduates

Answered by Susan Friedman & LLP Course Graduates:

Thank you for your important question. The very first step to understanding behavior is to replace diagnostic labels with the observable behavior your bird *does* and the conditions in which he does the behavior. You've used two labels: Territorial and aggressive. Those labels are used to describe a wide variety of behaviors. What does you bird do, that can be observed, and what are the immediate conditions that predict when he will do them? We modify behavior by changing the conditions under which it occurs, one behavior at a time.

I hope you don't mind my answering your question with two questions! After you tell me the observable behaviors and conditions in which they occur, we can proceed with the next step.

All best,
Susan G. Friedman, Ph.D.
Utah State University
Dept of Psychology
Dept of Special Education
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“Do not go where the path may lead;
go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” Emerson