Topographical and functional properties of precursors to severe problem behavior

Abstract

A literature search identified 17 articles reporting data on 34 subjects who engaged in precursors to severe problem behavior, which we examined to identify topographical and functional characteristics. Unintelligible vocalization was the most common precursor to aggression (27%) and property destruction (29%), whereas self- or nondirected movement was the most common precursor to SIB (32%). Unintelligible vocalization and object-directed movement were the most common precursors to behavior maintained by social-positive reinforcement (27% each), and unintelligible vocalization was the most common precursor to behavior maintained by social-negative reinforcement (29%). Only one precursor was reported for behavior maintained by automatic reinforcement.

Keywords: functional analysis; precursor; problem behavior; response chain; response class; topography.

Figure 1

Total number of subjects reported to engage in each target response (white bars; aggression  =  AGG, self-injurious behavior  =  SIB; property destruction  =  PD) and in precursors to each target response (black bars) for journal years in which precursors were reported.

Figure 2

Prevalence of precursor topographies to each target topography (left) and each target function (right). The n indicates the total number of precursors reported for each target topography or function.