ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Professional practice of behavior analysis

Do you know how sometimes you do things because you like them or they make you happy? Like eating your favorite snack or playing with your favorite toy? Well, some people have a really hard time doing things that most people do easily, like going to school, making friends or sitting still for a long time. This is where the professional practice of behavior analysis comes in!

Behavior analysis is like being a detective, but instead of solving a mystery, we try to understand why people do the things they do. For example, let's say your friend Johnny always runs away when you try to play with him. A behavior analyst would watch Johnny and see what happens right before he runs away (like you approaching him) and what happens right after (like he gets to play alone). They would also ask Johnny's parents and teachers what they have noticed. Then, they would use this information to figure out why Johnny doesn't want to play with you and how to make it easier for him to do it.

But, behavior analysis is not just about figuring out why people do things. It's also about helping them learn new behaviors that will make their lives easier and happier. For example, if Johnny doesn't know how to ask you to play with him instead of running away, a behavior analyst would teach him how to do that. They would also reward Johnny when he does something good (like asking to play with you) to encourage him to keep doing it.

Behavior analysts work with all kinds of people, from kids like you and Johnny to adults with disabilities, like autism or ADHD. They can help with things like making friends, sleeping well, eating healthy, and even learning new skills like reading and writing.

In summary, behavior analysis is a way to help people understand why some behaviors are difficult for them and learn new ones that will make their lives happier and easier. It's like being a detective who helps people solve the mystery of why they do the things they do.