What is Rapport building in behavioral terms?

In applied behavior analysis (ABA), rapport building refers to the process of establishing a positive and supportive relationship between the behavior analyst and their client, which is essential for effective treatment. ABA techniques that are commonly used for rapport building include positive social interactions, active listening, respect and empathy, and clear communication of expectations and treatment plans.

One of the most important techniques used in ABA for rapport building is pairing, which involves pairing the behaviorist with a source of reinforcement, such as preferred items or activities, preferred topics of conversation, food, or anything else the individual may like. This builds a positive association between the analyst and the client. Pairing can help to establish the analyst as a source of positive outcomes, which can in turn help to build trust and cooperation between the analyst and the client.

Here are some examples and categories of paring:

• Play-based pairing: A behavior analyst may pair themselves with the child's favorite toys, games, or activities during playtime to establish themselves as a source of reinforcement. For example, if the child loves playing with Legos, the analyst may play with Legos alongside the child and engage in positive social interactions to build rapport.

• Social-based pairing: A behavior analyst may pair themselves with social interaction that the child enjoys, such as playing together, having conversations or telling jokes, to build a positive association between themselves and the child.

• Sensory-based pairing: A behavior analyst may pair themselves with sensory experiences that the child enjoys, such as music or visual stimuli, to establish themselves as a source of positive experiences and reinforcement.

• Task-based pairing: A behavior analyst may pair themselves with tasks or activities that the child enjoys, such as a favorite game or puzzle, to establish themselves as a source of positive reinforcement during those activities.

• Token-based pairing: A behavior analyst may pair themselves with a token or reward system that the child enjoys, such as earning stickers or tokens for completing tasks or engaging in positive behavior, to establish themselves as a source of reinforcement.

• Activity-based pairing: A behavior analyst may pair themselves with a preferred activity or event, such as going to the park or watching a favorite TV show, to establish themselves as a source of positive reinforcement. For example, the analyst may plan a fun outing with the child and engage in positive social interactions during the activity to build rapport and establish themselves as a source of positive experiences.

Sources:

Cooper, J. O., Heron, T. E., & Heward, W. L. (2020). Applied behavior analysis (3rd ed.). Pearson.

Carr, J. E., & Nosik, M. R. (2019). Evidence-based practice in behavior analysis: What it is, why it matters, and how to do it. In Handbook of Applied Behavior Analysis (pp. 19-36). Springer.