A brief functional analysis of aggressive and alternative behavior in an outclinic setting.
We conducted a brief functional analysis to identify maintaining variable for aggressive behavior and an alternative replacement response during a 90-min outpatient evaluation of 3 individuals with severe handicaps. During the initial analogue assessment, which focused on identifying maintaining contingencies for aggressive behavior, each participant displayed a substantially greater frequency of aggressive behavior during one condition than during any other. The contingency that produced the highest percentage of aggressive behavior was then presented for the occurrence of a specific alternative behavior (a mand). During this contingency reversal phase, each participant displayed a substantial reduction in aggressive behavior and a substantial increase in alternative behavior, thus providing a direct analysis of the equivalency of the contingency for maintaining either behavior.
Northup
J
J
343 University Hospital School, University of Iowa, Iowa City 52242.
Wacker
D
D
Sasso
G
G
Steege
M
M
Cigrand
K
K
Cook
J
J
DeRaad
A
A
D000328:Adult; D000374:Aggression / Q000523:psychology*; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D001521:Behavior Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000628:therapy; D010552:Personality Assessment; D012054:Reinforcement, Psychology