An experimental analysis of aggression.
Use your standard FA script on aggression; it finds a usable function most of the time.
01Research in Context
What this study did
The team ran analog functional analyses on eight kids with developmental delays. Each child got five short conditions: attention, escape, alone, play, and control.
The goal was to see if the same FA format we use for self-injury would also reveal why these kids hit, kicked, or bit.
What they found
Seven of the eight analyses showed a clear payoff for aggression. Most kids were after attention or escape, mirroring what we usually see with SIB.
One child’s results stayed flat, proving aggression can sometimes defy easy categories.
How this fits with other research
Matson et al. (2011) backs this up. Their big review of 173 studies lists attention and escape as the top functions for aggression and SIB alike.
Lancioni et al. (2008) extends the story. When a brief FA looks unclear, longer sessions can still smoke out social reinforcers and lead to good treatment.
Weber et al. (2024) moves the work into the real world. In a large clinic sample, most aggression FAs still differentiated, though staff often had to tweak the standard conditions.
Why it matters
You can treat aggression like SIB. Run the same five FA conditions and you will usually get a function you can treat. If the first round is flat, extend the sessions before you give up. The method works in labs, clinics, and probably your own room.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
Iwata, Dorsey, Slifer, Bauman, and Richman developed an assessment method to identify the operant functions of self-injurious behavior. In this study, a similar method was used to assess the operant functions of aggression displayed by children and adolescents with developmental disabilities. Although previous research has shown that aggression is an operant behavior, there has been no comprehensive analysis of aggression using analog functional analysis method. Eight children and adolescents participated. The experimental conditions involved attention, escape, materials, no interaction, and control. Results for 7 of the 8 participants identified clear operant functions (positive or negative reinforcement) for aggression. For 1 child, subsequent analyses suggested that aggression was possibly sensitive to peer attention as reinforcement.
Behavior modification, 2001 · doi:10.1177/0145445501252002