Needed independent and dependent variables in multi-element behavior support plans addressing severe behavior...

Area of Science:

• Behavior Analysis
• Applied Behavior Analysis
• Child Psychology

Background:

• Ethical guidelines mandate the use of least aversive and restrictive behavior management strategies.
• Published behavior analysis studies often lack explicit detail on non-aversive reactive strategies for managing severe incidents.
• There is a need for clear paradigms integrating proactive and reactive approaches for behavior support.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce and discuss a multi-element paradigm for behavior support plans.
• To demonstrate the integration of ecological, positive programming, and focused-support proactive strategies.
• To highlight the role of non-aversive reactive strategies in rapidly and safely controlling behavioral incidents and reducing episodic severity.

Main Methods:

• Development of a multi-element paradigm incorporating proactive and reactive strategies.
• Analysis of three published studies implicitly using non-aversive reactive strategies (NARS).
• Application of the paradigm to support plans for three preschool children, utilizing comprehensive functional analysis and assessment (CFA) and multi-element behavior support (MEBS) plans.

Main Results:

• Proactive strategies successfully reduced the frequency of problem behavior occurrence.
• Reactive strategies effectively reduced episodic severity (ES), ensuring rapid and safe control during incidents.
• The multi-element paradigm led to successful outcomes without resorting to aversive or restrictive procedures.

Conclusions:

• The proposed multi-element paradigm offers an effective framework for behavior support.
• Integrating proactive and non-aversive reactive strategies is crucial for managing severe behaviors.
• Reducing episodic severity alongside behavioral frequency is a vital component of safe and ethical behavior management.