In a functional analysis, what is the name of the condition in which the therapist provides escape after problem behavior?

In a functional analysis, what is the name of the condition in which the therapist provides escape after problem behavior?

• A. Tangible condition
• B. Escape condition
• C. Attention condition
• D. Alone condition

Answer: (B)

The main idea is identifying whether negative reinforcement—escaping from an aversive task—maintains problem behavior. In the escape condition of a functional analysis, the therapist presents demands and then, contingent on problem behavior, provides a break or ends the task. This makes the behavior more likely to occur again because it delivers escape from the demanding situation. If the learner consistently emits the behavior to escape, that indicates the problem behavior is reinforced by escaping the task. For context, other conditions test different potential reinforcers: tangible involves access to preferred items; attention involves receiving attention from the therapist; alone tests for automatic reinforcement with no social consequences.

The main idea is identifying whether negative reinforcement—escaping from an aversive task—maintains problem behavior. In the escape condition of a functional analysis, the therapist presents demands and then, contingent on problem behavior, provides a break or ends the task. This makes the behavior more likely to occur again because it delivers escape from the demanding situation. If the learner consistently emits the behavior to escape, that indicates the problem behavior is reinforced by escaping the task.

For context, other conditions test different potential reinforcers: tangible involves access to preferred items; attention involves receiving attention from the therapist; alone tests for automatic reinforcement with no social consequences.