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Repetitive Speech and Problem Behavior: Functional Analysis of Precurrent Contingencies

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Abstract

When mands and problem behavior co-occur within an individual’s repertoire, a functional analysis of precurrent contingencies helps to identify any relation between the two responses, as well as the function of problem behavior. Repetitive behaviors may function similarly to mands and also co-occur with problem behavior; particularly when repetitive behavior is blocked, or when caregivers refrain from participating in repetitive behavior episodes (e.g., the repetitive behavior involves a verbal or physical interaction with a caregiver). The current study presents assessment and treatment results for two participants diagnosed with autism, who demonstrated repetitive speech and problem behavior. Informal observations suggested that problem behavior occurred when an adult failed to emit a specific response to the participant’s repetitive speech. Functional analysis results confirmed the informal observations and suggested that problem behavior functioned as a precurrent response to increase the probability of reinforcement for repetitive speech. We report treatment results and discuss the application of precurrent contingency analyses for problem behavior and repetitive behavior.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Neurobehavioral Unit Programs, Department of Behavioral Psychology, Kennedy Krieger Institute, 707 North Broadway, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA

    Craig W. Strohmeier, Amanda Goetzel, Sara Deinlein & Jonathan D. Schmidt

  2. Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA

    Craig W. Strohmeier & Jonathan D. Schmidt

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  1. Craig W. Strohmeier
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  2. Amanda Goetzel
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  3. Sara Deinlein
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  4. Jonathan D. Schmidt
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Correspondence to Craig W. Strohmeier.

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All procedures described herein involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards and IRB guidelines of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable standards.

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• A functional analysis of precurrent contingencies can help identify a probability altering function of problem behavior.

• Precurrent contingencies may support the relation between problem behavior and caregiver involvement in repetitive speech.

• Treatment involving compound schedules of reinforcement can reduce problem behavior that functions to increase probability of reinforcement related to repetitive speech.

• Clinicians may consider a functional analysis of precurrent contingencies when caregivers demonstrate avoidance-maintained accommodation of repetitive behaviors.

This research was conducted at the Kennedy Krieger Institute, Neurobehavioral Unit, Baltimore, Maryland.

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Strohmeier, C.W., Goetzel, A., Deinlein, S. et al. Repetitive Speech and Problem Behavior: Functional Analysis of Precurrent Contingencies. Behav Analysis Practice 16, 745–754 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40617-022-00743-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40617-022-00743-3

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