Behavior-analytic assessment and treatment of problem behavior maintained by social escape with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities: A systematic review.

Abstract

Research has shown that problem behavior (e.g., aggression) demonstrated by individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) can be maintained by escape from social interaction (i.e., social escape). Social interaction is an important variable related to overall quality of life and decreased social interaction has been associated with negative health outcomes. Thus, for individuals who present with problem behavior maintained by social escape there may be increased risk for negative ramifications should the social escape function go unidentified or untreated. The purpose of this review was to evaluate the extant literature on behavior-analytic assessment and treatment of problem behavior maintained by social escape with individuals with IDD. Our review found 18 studies providing demonstrations of assessment and 11 studies providing demonstrations of treatment for the social escape function. Although there have been demonstrations of effective treatment for problem behavior maintained by social escape, the extant literature on treatment has been limited with respect to the number of demonstrations and with methodologies utilized. We discuss the limitations of the current literature and discuss future avenues for research on the social escape function.