Melanson Behavioral Functions

Thu, Apr 9th - ABSC Lecture

Behavior

Anything an organism does

Dead man’s test

How we know something is a behavior; if a dead man can “do” something, then that “something” is not behavior

Topography

Form of the behavior, what the behavior looks like

Function

Purpose of the behavior, why it occurs

Not

Behavior are _ random; they are emitted to produce a change in the environment

Common Functions of behavior

Most behavior serves one of four functions, either in isolation or in combination; escape, tangible, attention, sensory

Escape

Behavior that removes something undesired or aversive

Attention

Behavior that accesses someone elese’s attention

Tangible

Behavior that accesses a prefered item or activity

Sensory

Behavior that provides access to sensory stimulation

Are

Behaviors _ related to environmental events. Behaviors _ influenced by what happens before and after.

During math class, Jordan frequently shouts out jokes without raising their hand. Each time, the teacher says, “Jordan, please stop,” and the class laughs. What is the function of Jordan’s shouting-out behavior?

Attention

When asked to complete a worksheet, Maya puts her head down and refuses to work. After a few minutes, the teacher tells her she can take a break in the hallway. What is the function of Maya’s head down and refusal behavior?

Escape

At the grocery store, Leo starts crying and yelling when his parent says he cannot have candy. After a minute, the parent gives him the candy to calm him down. What is the function of Leo’s crying and yelling behavior?

Tangible

Challenging Behavior

Any behavior that interferes with an individual’s ability to participate in daily acitivites, impedes learning and social engagement, or poses a risk of harm to themselves or others

Indirect assessment

Contains 16 closed-ended questions about antecedent and consequent events that may relate to challenging behavior, Escape Automatic

Functional Behavior Assessment:

1. Indirect assessment, 2. Descriptive Assessment, 3. Functional Analysis

Escape

This function of behavior is characterized by a behavior that removes something undersired or aversive

Escape

Descriptive Assment

Direct observation and systematic recording of challenging behavior in James’ environment, Escape Tangible

An indirect assessment involves

Both B & C

Functional Analysis of Challenging Behavior

An experimental approach to assessment in which behavior is observed repeatedly under well-defined test and control conditions, which are characterized by the presence and absence of suspected maintaining variables

Standard Functional Analysis Conditions

Attention, Control, Escape, Tangible

Attention; Purpose

To test if an individual’s challenging behavior is maintained by access to attention

Attention; Procedure

Practitioner withdraws attention and engages with the distractor item

The purpose of behavior (why it occurs) is the …

a. function

Escape; Purpose

To test if an individual’s challenging behavior is maintained by escape from the task instructions

Escape; Procedure

Practitioner provides task materials and provides instructions to complete the task

Tangible; Purpose

To test if an individual’s challenging behavior is maintained by access to tangible items

Tangible; Procedure

The therapist withdraws and manipulates the item

How is function determined?

Challenging behavior that occurs in any given test condition compared to the control condition

Control (play); purpose

Acts as a control condition to which all test conditions are compared

Control (play); Procedure

Practitioner provides unlimited access to preferred tangibles and attention, and does not provide any task instructions

What is a functional analysis?

An experimental approach to assessment in which behavior is observed repeatedly under well-defined test and control conditions

Functional analysis limitations

Time and resource-intensive. May temporarily increase challenging behavior. Complexity and Training Requirements. Ethical consideration