McGill, P. (1999).
Establishing operations: Implications for the assessment, treatment, and prevention of problem behavior.
Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis,
32, 393-418.
This paper seeks to integrate Michael's (1982, 1993) discussion
of the concept of the establishing operation (EO) with
existing conceptual and empirical analyses of problem behavior in
people with developmental disabilities. The paper begins with a
summary of Michael (1993), which seeks to describe his concept of
the EO and place it briefly in historical context. The role of
EOs in evoking and establishing motivation for problem behavior
is considered in some detail. A case is made for the greater
consideration of EOs in the functional analysis of problem
behavior, and specific suggestions for detecting the operation of
conditioned establishing operations are offered. Turning
to treatment, the paper considers the role played by EOs in
existing procedures and discusses the development of treatment
strategies that seek to modify EOs, extinguish EOs, and modify
the responses evoked by EOs. Finally, consideration is given to
the implications of EOs for the more systemic treatment and
prevention of problem behavior.
DESCRIPTORS: _problem behavior, establishing operations,
assessment, prevention