Description of the Strategy

Behavioral chain is a term used to describe a complex behavior that comprises many component behaviors. These component behaviors are sometimes referred to as links or members. When these component behaviors occur in a sequence, they are called a chain. Thus, chaining is a behavioral skill training procedure whereby a complex behavior is taught via sequential instruction in the component behaviors.

Three types of behavioral chain procedures are used: forward, backward, and total task presentation. In forward chaining, the behavior that occurs first in the sequence is taught first, the second behavior is added and taught next, and so on until all behavioral components have been taught and the entire sequence of behaviors occurs. In backward chaining, the last ...