Van Camp, C. M., Lerman, D. C., Kelley, M. E., Roane, H. S., Contrucci, S. A., & Vorndran, C. M. (2000).
Further analysis of idiosyncratic antecedent influences during the assessment and treatment of problem behavior.
Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis,
33, 207-221.
Recent research findings suggest that idiosyncratic variables can
influence the outcomes of functional analyses (E. G. Carr,
Yarbrough, & Langdon, 1997). In the present study, we
examined idiosyncratic environment–behavior relations more
precisely after identifying stimuli (i.e., a particular toy and
social interaction) associated with increased levels of problem
behavior. Two children, an 8-year-old boy with moderate mental
retardation and a 5-year-old boy with no developmental delays,
participated. Results of functional analyses for both children
indicated that idiosyncratic antecedent stimuli set the occasion
for occurrences of problem behavior (hand biting or hand
flapping) and that problem behavior persisted in the absence of
social contingencies. Further analyses were conducted to identify
specific components of the stimuli that occasioned problem
behavior. Treatments based on results of the analyses
successfully reduced self-injury and hand flapping.
DESCRIPTORS: antecedents, complementary reinforcers,
developmental disabilities, establishing operations, functional
analysis, problem behavior