Which FA condition is used to observe behavior when the therapist is not present in the room and no programmed consequences are provided?

Which FA condition is used to observe behavior when the therapist is not present in the room and no programmed consequences are provided?

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

Answer: (B)

In functional analysis, different conditions are used to see what reinforces a behavior. The Alone condition leaves the person by themselves with no interaction from others and no programmed consequences for any behavior. This setup reveals whether the behavior occurs without social reinforcement—if it occurs, it suggests automatic reinforcement is maintaining it. If the behavior drops in this condition but appears when attention or escape from demands is available, that points to social contingencies maintaining the behavior. The other conditions test for reinforcement from attention or from escaping demands, while this one specifically isolates behavior when the therapist isn’t present and no consequences are provided.

In functional analysis, different conditions are used to see what reinforces a behavior. The Alone condition leaves the person by themselves with no interaction from others and no programmed consequences for any behavior. This setup reveals whether the behavior occurs without social reinforcement—if it occurs, it suggests automatic reinforcement is maintaining it. If the behavior drops in this condition but appears when attention or escape from demands is available, that points to social contingencies maintaining the behavior. The other conditions test for reinforcement from attention or from escaping demands, while this one specifically isolates behavior when the therapist isn’t present and no consequences are provided.