Self-monitoring
Project Home

Definitions

Recording
Methods

SORCK
Analysis

Behavioural
Interventions

Comments on
Previous
Assignments

References

Take a quiz

Classification of Behaviour

Behaviour may be classified into one of the four categories of: excess, deficit, inappropriate stimulus control, and asset. The definitions of each of these classifications is given below.

Category

Definition

Excess

Behaviours that occur at such a high frequency, intensity or duration that they are problematic in the setting in which they occur (e.g. hitting, smoking, obsessive checking).

Deficit

Behaviours that occur at such a low frequency, intensity or duration that they are problematic in the setting in which they occur (e.g. eye contact during conversation, task engagement, study behaviours)

Inappropriate stimulus control

Behaviours that occur at a reasonable frequency intensity or duration and are adaptive, but are elicited by inappropriate stimuli (e.g., sexual arousal to objects, social interaction during study).

Asset

Behaviours that are developmentally and socially appropriate and constructive (e.g. hobbies, language and problem solving skills).

Please read the Copyright information.
February, 1998

e-mail: ottmar@psy.uq.edu.au
Web design: David Neumann