Skip to main content
Log in

Understanding Stalking Behaviors by Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders and Recommended Prevention Strategies for School Settings

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Stalking behavior among some students with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) is of concern both for the individual being stalked as well as the student with ASDs. This manuscript reviews effective interventions based upon functional assessment and appropriate positive behavior supports. Specific interventions for addressing staking behavior by students with ASDs are analyzed and evaluated with suggestions for best practice for instructional procedures. Interventions covered are social skills groups, video modeling, self-management, video feedback, rule governed behavior, scripts, visual supports, counseling, psychopharmacology and reducing the amount of isolating interests and activities while increasing more opportunities for integration. Recommendations for future research are discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • American Psychiatric Association. (1994). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental health disorders (4th ed.). Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association.

    Google Scholar 

  • Attwood, T. (2000). Strategies for improving the social integration of children with Asperger syndrome. Autism, 4(1), 85–100.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Attwood, T. (2007). The complete guide to Asperger’s Syndrome. Philadelphia: Jessica Kingsley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Baron-Cohen, S., Leslie, A. M., & Frith, U. (1985). Does the autistic child have a “theory of mind?”. Cognition, 21, 37–46.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Castorina, L. L., & Negri, L. M. (2011). The inclusion of siblings in social skills training groups for boys with Asperger syndrome. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 41, 73–81.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Charlop, M. H., & Milstein, J. P. (1989). Teaching autistic children conversational speech using video modeling. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 22, 275–285.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Charlop-Christy, M. H. & Daneshivar, S. (2003). Using video modeling to teach perspective taking to children with autism. Journal Positive Behavior Interventions, 5, 12–21.

    Google Scholar 

  • Charlop-Christy, M. H., Dennis, B., Carpenter, M. H., & Greenberg, A. L. (2010). Teaching socially expressive behaviors to children with autism through video modeling. Education and Treatment of Children, 33, 371–393.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Charlop-Christy, M. H., & Haymes, L. K. (1998). Using objects of obsession as token reinforcers for children with autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 28, 189–198.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Deitchman, C., Reeve, S. A., Reeve, K. F., & Progar, P. R. (2010). Incorporating video feedback into self-management training to promote generalization of social initiations by children with autism. Education and Treatment of Children, 33, 475–488.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dunn Buron, K. (2007). A 5 is against the law! Social boundaries: Straight up!. Shawnee Mission, KS: Autism Asperger Publishing Co.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gresham, F. M., Van, M. B., & Cook, C. (2006). Social skills training for teaching replacement behaviors: Remediating acquisition deficits in at-risk students. Behavioral Disorders, 31, 363–377.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hagland, C., & Webb, Z. (2009). Working with adults with Asperger syndrome: A practical toolkit. Philadelphia, PA: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Haskins, B. G., & Silva, A. (2006). Asperger’s disorder and criminal behavior: Forensic-psychiatric considerations. The Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law, 34, 374–384.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hayes, S. C. (2004). Rule-governed behavior: Cognition, contingencies, and instructional control. Reno, NV: Context Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Haymes, L. K (1995). Using video modeling to improve conversation skills with autistic children: A comparison of obsessions and nonobsessions as topics. Ph.D. dissertation, The Claremont Graduate University.

  • Klin, A., Volkmar, F., & Sparrow, S. (2000). Asperger syndrome. New York: Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Knoll, J. (2007). Risk management of stalking. In D. A. Pinals (Ed.), Stalking: Psychiatric perspectives and practical approaches (pp. 85–106). New York: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Koegel, L. K., Harrower, J. K., & Koegel, R. L. (1999). Support for children with developmental disabilities in full inclusion classrooms through self-management. Journal of Positive Behavior Interventions, 1, 26–34.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Koegel, R. L., & Koegel, L. K. (1990). Extended reductions in stereotypic behavior of students with autism through a self-management treatment package. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 28, 47–59.

    Google Scholar 

  • Koegel, L. K., Koegel, R. L., Hurley, C., & Frea, W. D. (1992). Improving social skills and disruptive behavior in children with autism through self-management. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 25, 341–353.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Konig, C., & McGill-Evans, J. (2001). Social and language skills in adolescent boys with Asperger’s syndrome. Autism: The international Journal of Research & Practice, 5, 23–36.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Krantz, P. J., & McClannahan, L. E. (1993). Teaching children with autism to initiate to peers: Effects of a script-fading procedure. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 26, 121–132.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Krantz, P., & McClannahan, L. (1998). Social inter-action skills for children with autism: A script-fading procedure for beginning readers. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 31, 191–202.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Leaf, J., Dotson, W. H., Oppeneheim, M. L., Sheldon, J. B., & Sherman, J. A. (2010). The effectiveness of a group teaching interaction procedure for teaching social skills to young children with a pervasive developmental disorder. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 4, 86–198.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • LeBlanc, L., Coates, A. M., Daneshvar, S., Charlop-Christy, M. H., Morris, C., & Lancaster, B. M. (2003). Video modeling and reinforcement to teach perspective-taking skills to children with autism. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 36, 253–257.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Lennox, D. B., & Miltenberger, R. G. (1989). Conducting a functional assessment of problem behavior in applied settings. Journal of the Association for Persons with Severe handicaps, 14, 304–311.

    Google Scholar 

  • Maione, L. M., & Mirenda, P. (2006). Effects of video modeling and video feedback on peer-directed social language of a child with autism. Journal of Positive Behavior Interventions, 2, 106–118.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Meloy, J. R., & Gothard, S. (1995). Demographic and clinical comparison of obsessional followers and offenders with mental disorders. The American Journal of Psychiatry, 152, 258–263.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mullen, P. E., Pathe, M., & Purcell, R. (2000). Stalkers and their victims. New York: Cambridge University Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Mullen, P. E., Pathe, M., Purcell, R., & Stuart, G. W. (1999). Study of stalkers. American Journal of Psychiatry, 156, 1244–1249.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Myles, B. S., & Simpson, R. L. (2001). Understanding the hidden curriculum: An essential social skill for children and youth with Asperger syndrome. Intervention in School and Clinic, 36, 279–286.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Neef, N. A., & Peterson, S. M. (2007). Functional behavior assessment. In J. O. Cooper, T. E. Heron, & W. L. Heward (Eds.), Applied behavior analysis (2nd ed., pp. 500–524). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Merrill/Prentice Hall.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nikopoulos, C. K., & Keenan, M. (2007). Using video modeling to teach complex social sequences to children with autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 37, 678–693.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • O’Neill, R. E., Horner, R. H., Albin, R. W., Srapgue, J. R., Storey, K., & Newton, J. S. (1997). Functional assessment and program development for problem behavior. Pacific Grove, CA: Brookes/Cole Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • O’Reilly, M. F., O’Halloran, M., Sigafoos, J., Lancioni, G., Green, V., Edrisinha, C., et al. (2005). Evaluation of video feedback and self-management to decrease schoolyard aggression and increase pro-social behavior in two students with behavioral disorders. Educational Psychology, 25, 199–206.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Premack, D. (1959). Toward empirical behavioral laws: I Positive reinforcement. Psychological Review, 66, 219–233.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Proctor, M. (2003). How to stop a stalker. Amherst, NY: Prometheus Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sansosti, F. J., Powell-Smith, K. A., & Kincaid, D. (2004). A research synthesis of social story interventions for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Focus on Autism & Other Developmental Disabilities, 19, 194–204.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Skinner, B. F. (1953). Science and human behavior. New York, NY: The Macmillian Company.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith Myles, B., & Simpson, R. L. (2002). Students with Asperger syndrome: Implications for counselors. Counseling and Human Development, 34, 1–14.

    Google Scholar 

  • Snow, R. L. (1998). Stopping stalking: A cop’s guide to making the system work for you. New York: Plenum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Southall, C. M., & Gast, D. L. (2011). Self-management procedures: A comparison across the autism spectrum. Education and Training in Autism and Developmental Disabilities, 46(2), 155–171.

    Google Scholar 

  • Spitzberg, B. H., & Cupach, W. R. (2007). The state of the art of stalking: Taking stock of the emerging literature. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 12, 64–86.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stokes, M., & Kaur, A. (2005). High-functioning autism and sexuality: A parental perspective. Autism: The International Journal of Research and Practice, 9, 266–289.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stokes, M., Newton, N., & Kaur, A. (2007). Stalking, and social and romantic functioning among adolescents and adults with autism spectrum disorder. Journal of Autism Developmental Disorders, 37, 1969–1986.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tantam, D. (2000). Psychological disorder in adolescents and adults with Asperger syndrome. Autism: The International Journal of Research and Practice, 4, 47–63.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Taylor, B. A., Levin, L., & Jasper, S. (1999). Increasing play-related statements in children with autism toward their siblings: Effects of video modeling. Journal of Developmental and Physical Disabilities, 11, 253–264.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thiemann, K. S., & Goldstein, H. (2001). Social stories, written text cues, and video feedback: Effects on social communication of children with autism. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 34, 425–446.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Thompson, T. (2007). Making sense of autism. Baltimore, MD: Paul Brookes.

    Google Scholar 

  • Walker, H. M., Todis, B., Holmes, D., & Horten, G. (1988). The access program: Adolescent curriculum for communication and effective social skills. Austin, TX: Pro-Ed.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wehmeyer, M., Yeager, D., Bolding, N., Agran, M., & Hughes, C. (2003). The effects of self- regulation strategies on goal attainment for students with developmental disabilities in general education classrooms. Journal of Developmental & Physical Disabilities, 15(1), 79–91.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Williams, K., Wheeler, D. M., Silove, N., & Hazell, P. (2010). Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) for autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 9, 1–33.

    Google Scholar 

  • Winner, M. (2005). Think social: A social thinking curriculum for school-age students. San Jose, CA: Socialthinking.com.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Michal Post.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Post, M., Haymes, L., Storey, K. et al. Understanding Stalking Behaviors by Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders and Recommended Prevention Strategies for School Settings. J Autism Dev Disord 44, 2698–2706 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-012-1712-8

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-012-1712-8

Keywords

Navigation