The communicative function hypothesis: an operant behavior perspective

The suggestion that all problem behaviors may serve a communicative function is explored from an operant perspective. An analysis of the environmental functions of operant behavior involves an understanding of two sets of relations: (1) two types of reinforcement contingencies (positive and negative) and (2) two types of operant behaviors (verbal and non-verbal). Such an operant analysis reveals that not all problem behaviors may currently serve a communicative function. However, often an alternate replacement behavior can be developed that would achieve the same environmental effect as the problem behavior through social mediation and thereby be communicative in nature. A theoretical classification system for identifying the type of function a problem behavior may serve is advanced. Implications for prescribing behavioral treatments based on this model are presented.