THE SOCIAL FUNCTIONS OF PROBLEM BEHAVIOR

David L. Lee, PhD, BCBA-DThe Pennsylvania State University

So… Who are these kids?

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One Size Fits All

Mike and Pete both engage in aggressive acts when asked to complete an assignment. Ms. Jones has decided to implement a behavior plan to decrease the aggression of both students. The behavior plan entails giving the students time-out. Ms. Jones has collected the following data on aggressive behavior during the time-out intervention:

Time Out Intervention Data

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Pete

Mike

Pete

What is a Functional Assessment? Process for gathering information

Assumptions:

Behavior is setting specific

Behavior serves a purpose (Function - obtain, escape)

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Traditional ABC Model

Antecedent

• 4+4• Teacher

gives assignment

Behavior

• Write 8• Student

punches Bob

Consequence

• Nice work!

• Time out!

So, How Does This Work?

Descriptive Phase:

Interview, checklist, ABC recording

Goals

Experimental Phase: Design method to reliably evoke problem

behavior

Examples next

Escape Function

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10

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AttentionEscapeAloneTangible

Session

Perc

ent

of

Inte

rvals

Attention Function

1 2 3 4 50

10

20

30

40

50

60

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80

90

AttentionEscapeAloneTangible

Session

Perc

ent

of

Inte

rvals

Intervention

Teach a more efficient way to acquire reinforcer.

Reinforce desired behavior.

Withhold reinforcement for inappropriate behavior.

Why FBA?

Potential for best practice

IDEA

Research base

Potential Issues with FBA with EBD Initial research base

Proximal and distal stimuli

No detail about socially-mediated reinforcers

Does not account for variables that could affect persistence of behavior

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An Expanded Model

Social

and Motivating Operations

A B C

Social Functions of Problem Behavior

Social Interchanges Defined

Reciprocity

Complementarity

Traditional FBA

Expanded Model

Social Functions of Problem Behavior

Social Network Membership Defined

How developed (sorting)

Helpful pieces of information

Traditional FBA

Expanded Model

Social Functions of Problem Behavior

Social Roles and Reputations Defined

Traditional FBA

Expanded Model

Social Functions of Problem Behavior

Inclusionary / Exclusionary Processes

Defined

Traditional FBA

Expanded Model

Why an Expanded Model?

Enhanced clarity of context.

Allows for interventions that:

Account for proximal & distal

Leverage social functions

Teach relevant social skills