Functional and structural analyses of behavior: approaches leading to reduced use of punishment procedures?

Abstract

A common approach to dealing with the serious misbehaviors of handicapped individuals is to use punishment procedures. Although punishment techniques are often effective, many claim that their use is restrictive. Emerging approaches for dealing with inappropriate behavior are to conduct a functional or structural analysis of behavior. These approaches allow practitioners to isolate and manipulate the factors responsible for aberrant behaviors. Such analyses may reveal that a maladaptive behavior results in adult attention, is associated with demand situations, or provides reinforcing sensory feedback. In each case corrective procedures relevant to the function of the inappropriate behavior or its associated stimuli, can be applied. In some cases the analysis will reveal alternative approaches to the use of punishment procedures. In other cases it may not. Presently, there have been relatively few examples of the functional and structural analysis approaches; results thus far, however, have been encouraging.