Skip to main content
PMC home page
Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis logoLink to Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis
. 2001 Summer;34(2):195–210. doi: 10.1901/jaba.2001.34-195

Functional analysis and treatment of self-injury associated with transitions.

B E McCord 1, R J Thomson 1, B A Iwata 1
PMCID: PMC1284312  PMID: 11421312

Abstract

We applied functional analysis methodology to the assessment and treatment of 2 individuals' self-injurious behavior (SIB), which was reported to be occasioned by transitions from one activity or location to another. A structural (task) analysis of activity transitions identified at least three separate components that might influence behavior either alone or in combination: (a) termination of a prechange activity, (b) initiation of a postchange activity, and (c) movement from one location to another. Results of preference and avoidance assessments were used to identify activities to which participants were exposed in varying arrangements during transitions in a functional analysis. Results of 1 participant's functional analysis indicated that his SIB was maintained by avoidance of having to change locations, regardless of the activity terminated prior to the change or the activity initiated following it. The 2nd participant's analysis revealed the same function but also an additional one: avoidance of certain task initiations. This information was used to identify transition contexts during intervention and to design treatment procedures appropriate for a given context and behavioral function. A procedure involving advance notice of an upcoming transition had no effect on SIB, and differential reinforcement of alternative behavior (DRA) had limited effects in the absence of extinction. Sustained decreases in SIB were observed when DRA was combined with extinction and response blocking. Further extensions of functional analysis methodology to the assessment of problem behavior in situations characterized by multiple or protracted stimulus changes are discussed.

Full Text

The Full Text of this article is available as a PDF (252.3 KB).

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Baer D. M., Wolf M. M., Risley T. R. Some current dimensions of applied behavior analysis. J Appl Behav Anal. 1968 Spring;1(1):91–97. doi: 10.1901/jaba.1968.1-91. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. DeLeon I. G., Iwata B. A. Evaluation of a multiple-stimulus presentation format for assessing reinforcer preferences. J Appl Behav Anal. 1996 Winter;29(4):519–533. doi: 10.1901/jaba.1996.29-519. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Fisher W. W., Piazza C. C., Bowman L. G., Kurtz P. F., Sherer M. R., Lachman S. R. A preliminary evaluation of empirically derived consequences for the treatment of pica. J Appl Behav Anal. 1994 Fall;27(3):447–457. doi: 10.1901/jaba.1994.27-447. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Iwata B. A., Dorsey M. F., Slifer K. J., Bauman K. E., Richman G. S. Toward a functional analysis of self-injury. J Appl Behav Anal. 1994 Summer;27(2):197–209. doi: 10.1901/jaba.1994.27-197. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Iwata B. A., Pace G. M., Kalsher M. J., Cowdery G. E., Cataldo M. F. Experimental analysis and extinction of self-injurious escape behavior. J Appl Behav Anal. 1990 Spring;23(1):11–27. doi: 10.1901/jaba.1990.23-11. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Kennedy C. H., Itkonen T. Effects of setting events on the problem behavior of students with severe disabilities. J Appl Behav Anal. 1993 Fall;26(3):321–327. doi: 10.1901/jaba.1993.26-321. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. LaRue S. M., Gillette S. M., Poulson J. M. Radiation therapy of thoracic and abdominal tumors. Semin Vet Med Surg (Small Anim) 1995 Aug;10(3):190–196. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Lalli J. S., Vollmer T. R., Progar P. R., Wright C., Borrero J., Daniel D., Barthold C. H., Tocco K., May W. Competition between positive and negative reinforcement in the treatment of escape behavior. J Appl Behav Anal. 1999 Fall;32(3):285–296. doi: 10.1901/jaba.1999.32-285. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. doi: 10.1901/jaba.1999.32-339. [DOI] [PMC free article] [Google Scholar]
  10. Paclawskyj T. R., Vollmer T. R. Reinforcer assessment for children with developmental disabilities and visual impairments. J Appl Behav Anal. 1995 Summer;28(2):219–224. doi: 10.1901/jaba.1995.28-219. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Repp A. C., Karsh K. G. Hypothesis-based interventions for tantrum behaviors of persons with developmental disabilities in school settings. J Appl Behav Anal. 1994 Spring;27(1):21–31. doi: 10.1901/jaba.1994.27-21. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Sainato D. M., Strain P. S., Lefebvre D., Rapp N. Facilitating transition times with handicapped preschool children: a comparison between peer-mediated and antecedent prompt procedures. J Appl Behav Anal. 1987 Fall;20(3):285–291. doi: 10.1901/jaba.1987.20-285. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Smith R. G. Analysis of establishing operations for self-injury maintained by escape. J Appl Behav Anal. 1995 Winter;28(4):515–535. doi: 10.1901/jaba.1995.28-515. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Smith R. G., Iwata B. A. Antecedent influences on behavior disorders. J Appl Behav Anal. 1997 Summer;30(2):343–375. doi: 10.1901/jaba.1997.30-343. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Sowers J. A., Rusch F. R., Connis R. T., Cummings L. E. Teaching mentally retarded adults to time-manage in a vocational setting. J Appl Behav Anal. 1980 Spring;13(1):119–128. doi: 10.1901/jaba.1980.13-119. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Tustin R. D. The effects of advance notice of activity transitions on stereotypic behavior. J Appl Behav Anal. 1995 Spring;28(1):91–92. doi: 10.1901/jaba.1995.28-91. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis are provided here courtesy of Society for the Experimental Analysis of Behavior

RESOURCES