Ep. 50: What to Do When You Don’t Know the Function of a Behavior

The Misfit Behaviorists - Practical Strategies for Special Education and ABA Professionals

Struggling to address aggression in non-vocal learners? In this episode, Audra and Caitlin dive into practical strategies for managing sudden, seemingly random aggressive behaviors. They explore why behaviors might spike, the importance of consistent reinforcement, and how taking a step back can be the key to moving forward.
✨ Key Takeaways
🔄 When to Reset: If a learner’s aggressive behavior escalates, revisit earlier interventions, even if it feels like “going backwards.”
⭐ Know Your Learner: Conduct informal preference assessments regularly to keep reinforcers fresh and effective.
🧩 Consistency is Key: Ensure all team members are aligned on reinforcement strategies and behavior plans.
🎯 Dense Reinforcement Schedules: When needed, reintroduce primary reinforcers on a dense schedule to regain stability.
🌱 Progress Takes Time: Behavior change is a systematic process—don’t rush the fading of reinforcers or supports.
📚 Resources and Ideas
✔️ Caitlin's FREE guide on Function-Based interventions
✔️ Caitlin's resource for functions of behaviors
✔️ Audra's preference assessment and Caitlin's preference assessment
📘 Journal Articles – Some useful articles to check out:
"Aggression in Autism Spectrum Disorder: Presentation and Treatment Options" (examines the prevalence and characteristics of aggression in individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder)
"Communication Interventions for Autism Spectrum Disorder in Minimally Verbal Children" (evaluates the effectiveness of communication interventions for minimally verbal children with ASD)
📘 Cooper, Heron, & Heward (2020): Applied Behavior Analysis (3rd Edition) for reinforcement and preference assessment strategies.
📝 The Essentials of ABA: Reinforcement schedules and managing satiation.
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🎙 Next Episode: Step 9 in the FBA Mini-Series: Antecedent Strategies
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