Mueller, M. M., Wilczynski, S. M., Moore, J. W., Fusilier, I., & Trahant, D. (2001).
Antecedent manipulations in a tangible condition: The effects of stimulus preference on aggression.
Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis,
34, 237-240.
After a functional analysis indicated that aggression of an
8-year-old boy with autism was maintained by access to preferred
items, antecedent manipulations involving the relative preference
of restricted and noncontingently available stimuli were
conducted. Restricting highly preferred items evoked the highest
rates of aggression regardless of the preference level of the
noncontingently available alternative items. Restricting less
preferred stimuli was associated with moderate rates of
aggression even when the alternative items were more preferred.
DESCRIPTORS: _aggression, antecedent manipulations, functional
analysis, positive reinforcement