I read that Ivar Lovaas finally died!! ! =D =D =D

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Yeah, well the problem is now he's dead and can't change what he said. So his words will perpetuate forever. What the autistic community should have done is demanded a public apology from him, and he should have given it. But now he can't, so 50 years from now his "studies" may still be used. And they may become more well-known in the next couple of weeks with news coverage of his death. Sort of like Michael Jackson, who probably got more hours of news coverage in the week after his death than in the 6 months before.

He's answering to God, for all the bad that he's done, as we type our posts.

Food is okay because it is a positive incentive for the kid.

Yeah works for our boy. Food is only a part of it, there's games and activities and just having cuddles and praise.

And all the rest of us who go to our jobs and get paid for them, it's basically the same thing.

Matthew Israel next, please.

Why are people happy that this guy died? I mean he did some horrific crimes against humanity, but i'm not happy that he's dead. Chances are that he was so deluded that he thought he was doing a service to humanity and therefore, he must have had good intentions (though I have heard that all he cared about was making moneyz). I just feel pity for him. I feel sympathy for his loved ones because, lets face it- even monsters are loved by some.

If ABA is used to extinguish dysfunctional behaviours, I'm in favour. If, however, the primary purpose is to make a child look as normal as possible, I don't agree.

Well thats not true. Pain is a valid way to teach children. "Spare the rod, spoil the child".
Food on the other hand, is a HORRIBLE reward. You're messing with their view of food. You're going to give that child a eating disorder.

Frankly, I didn't know about this guy untill today, but already I HATE the man.
Using overkill techniques (shock therapy? really?!?) punnishment of children for things they have no controll of. It's discusting! This isn't like spanking a child for missbehaving, these childrens arn't doing anything wrong! Their just being themselves.

Supposedly some children improve, but it's after years of treatment. Auspies develop at their own, often jumpy pace. I can't see any possable way they'd be able correlate any improvement with the "treatments".

Do you work ducky? Get any reward for that?
Just asking

I'm a student, are you trying to insinuate something?

No, just pointing out that we are generally rewarded for our efforts (reinforced) which gives a reason to do more it's one of the principles of ABA, food is one example of an effective reinforcer particularly for younger kids, there's numerous ways of course. E.g. myself I get paid every 2 weeks for my efforts at work..keeps me coming back.
Edit: I totally disagree with you on the need to hit kids, it's for the weak and lazy.

It depends on the child. Each one's an indivudual, with their own personality and requires their own brand of disipline. It takes alot of trial and error on the parts of the parents. Some you can get away with just positive reinforcement. Some only react to negative. Some you can look at with a mad face and that's enough for them. Others require a sound whiping. And not all negative reinforcement has to be actual hitting. There is the corner, the "go to your room". The grounding. Extra choirs. If you're creative you can think up more. Like handing a kid a couple of thick books and having him hold them out to his sides for a long time. Still, no matter how creative you get, some kids will ONLY respond to a spanking.

If positive reinforcement is the what your child responds to, great! Just don't use food. Americans in particular, have very bad relationships with their food. We eat to reward ourselves, to comfort ourselves, when we're bored, when we're being social, etc etc. Don't encourage this in your child, EVER! You're setting them up for obesity, heart disease and diabetes. You should eat when you're hungry. Not because you did something good or are sad or bored.

are we celebrating someones death

this is often why i feel like leaving this forum

If there's an afterlife, what do you think Ivar Lovaas's afterlife will be like?
What kind of "negative reinforcements/aversives" await his soul?

Honesty, I'd like to think his intentions where good. Even if his methods were horrible. But thats just me, I have to believe people are inately good, or I go insane.

I saw a picture of that guy on the interview thing, and he kind of looks like Barack Obama in it...0.o