Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is essentially a particular application of a theoretical construct of behaviorism or social learning theory. Early studies of animal behavior determined that the observed behaviors of an organism could be conditioned over time. Operant conditioning occurs when an event that closely follows a behavior becomes associated with that behavior. A common example from many of our lives, is when you’ve eaten a particular food and then you get the stomach flu shortly thereafter. In this example, you’ve made a negative association between the food and your illness. Operant conditioning whether naturally occurring or deliberately constructed is evident in all our daily lives.

The principal component of an ABA program is the systematic and intentional modification of certain “target” behaviors. This may include extinguishing negative behaviors such as tantrums, or increasing positive behaviors such as communication and compliance. 

ABA can be used in any environment, and techniques of behavior modification and management are applicable to most any setting. However, in the case of children with autism, ABA should be the core modality for learning—that is, the acquisition of certain skills. In order to teach certain skills to autistic children, behavioral therapy is structured into a particular teaching format. This teaching method is called Discrete Trial Teaching (DTT). Again, ABA can be used in any situation with or without DTT; however, DTT by its very nature requires the use of ABA.