Covariation Within Functional Response Classes: Implications for Treatment of Severe Problem Behavior

Abstract

Two studies examined the effects of a reductive treatment versus instruction-based treatments on the generalized reduction of problem behaviors. Each study involved a detailed analysis of multiple problem behaviors performed by school-aged youth with severe intellectual disabilities. The analysis examined the contrasting effects of one of two different positive intervention procedures (teaching a positive alternative behavior or providing additional teacher assistance during instruction) versus blocking and/or verbally reprimanding a problem behavior. The focus of each analysis was on the covariation of multiple problem behaviors within functional response classes. Results of the investigation indicated that when only one member of the response class was blocked, a collateral increase was observed in one or more different problem behaviors from the same response class. Alternatively, when 1 participant was taught a functionally equivalent mand response, all problem behaviors in the response class were reduced. Problem behaviors also were reduced for the remaining participant by presenting antecedent teacher assistance. Implications of the research extend to analysis of covariation within response classes and to procedures that result in generalized reduction of problem behaviors within a response class.

A Review and Treatment Selection Model for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities Who Engage in Inappropriate Sexual Behavior

“…In another relevant study, Sprague and Horner (1992) implemented an antecedent manipulation to treat the ISB of a 12-year-old female diagnosed with ASD and severe intellectual disability. Results of a functional behavior assessment suggested that lifting her shirt was maintained in part by contingent access to assistance with difficult tasks.…”

“…The current literature provides evidence of the success of a variety of interventions for socially mediated ISB, including DRA (e.g., Cihak et al 2007;Fisher, W. W et al 2000;Hagopian, L. P et al 2002;Najdowski et al 2008), manipulation of motivating operations (e.g., O'Reilly et al 2006), extinction (e.g., Dozier et al 2011;O'Reilly et al 2006), NCR (e.g., Hagopian, L. P et al 2002), and instructional revisions (Carlson et al 2008;Cihak et al 2007;Sprague and Horner 1992). While some interventions have been evaluated only with specific functions maintaining ISB (e.g., the manipulation of motivating operations has not yet been studied with escape-maintained ISB), this should not preclude future clinicians from considering all of the aforementioned interventions to treat ISB as they have a history of evidence of effectiveness with reducing a variety of challenging behaviors and there is no reason to believe that ISB would not respond to such treatment in a similar fashion.…”

“…These behaviors have included (a) exhibitionism or disrobing (e.g., Carlson et al 2008;Hagopian et al 2002;Lutzker 1974;Sprague and Horner 1992); (b) public masturbation or sexually stereotypical behavior (Hagopian et al 2002;Sailor et al 1968;Sprague et al 1997); (c) inappropriately touching others (Magee and Ellis 2001); (d) publicly discussing sexually inappropriate topics (Early et al 2012;Pritchard et al 2011); (e) aggressively coercing peers into sexual interactions (Polvinale and Lutzker 1980); (f) masochism (Money and Annecillo 1991;Widermannova and Strnad 1963); (g) paraphilia (i.e., sexual arousal to atypical objects, individuals; Early et al 2012); and (h) persistence in pursuing romantic relationships, which may be perceived as stalking (Stokes et al 2007).…”

Establishing Operations: Implications for the Assessment, Treatment, and Prevention of Problem Behavior

“…FCT has been shown to lead to rapid, durable, and generalized reductions in problem behavior without the occurrence of an extinction burst (Durand & Carr, 1991, 1992Sprague & Horner, 1992). The success of FCT has generally been attributed to the notion of functional equivalence (Carr & Durand, 1985a) in which the strengthening (through FCT) of a socially desirable response leads to the weakening or elimination of problem behavior responses having the same function.…”

Effects of Extinction Alone and Extinction Plus Functional Communication Training on Covariation of Problem Behaviors

“…Individuals with severe disabilities who engage in problem behavior frequently display multiple response topographies that vary in severity and frequency but are members of the same functional response class (Sprague & Horner, 1992). It is not uncommon for behavior-reduction programs to target one problem behavior at a time.…”