Further evaluation of antecedent social events during functional analysis.

Lancioni et al. (2009) ran a functional analysis with two people. They kept the same reinforcement rules in every condition.

The only thing they changed was how the therapist acted before problem behavior. They called these 'antecedent social events.'

When the therapist gave more attention or small talk up front, problem behavior rose even though the payoff stayed the same.

The study shows your own small talk can accidentally feed the very behavior you are testing.

Horner (1994) did the opposite trick. That team flooded the room with social praise and faded in hard tasks. Problem behavior dropped to near zero for two of three students.

Weyman et al. (2021) adds praise inside the escape condition. Praise did not cut problem behavior, but it did boost compliance. Together the three papers show therapist chit-chat is never neutral.

Oliver et al. (2002) ran a neutral-contingency FA and also saw problem behavior fall. The common thread: parts of the FA you think are 'background' can actually steer the data.

Before your next FA, script your own antecedent behavior. Use the same greeting, eye contact, and small talk in every condition. Record yourself for five minutes to check drift. A steady therapist gives you a cleaner picture of true function.