Skip to main content
Kent Academic Repository

Aggression and the termination of "rituals": a new variant of the escape function for challenging behavior?

Murphy, Glynis H., Macdonald, Susan, Hall, Scott, Oliver, Chris (2000) Aggression and the termination of "rituals": a new variant of the escape function for challenging behavior? Research in Developmental Disabilities, 21 (1). pp. 43-59. ISSN 0891-4222. (doi:10.1016/S0891-4222(99)00029-3) (The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided) (KAR id:16448)

The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided.
Official URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0891-4222(99)00029-3

Abstract

Aggression and stereotyped behaviors are not uncommon among people with intellectual disabilities and they are often treated separately as operant behaviors. In this single case study, it is argued that the function of a young woman's aggressive behavior appeared to be that of avoiding or escaping the termination of a chain of complex stereotyped behavior (or "ritual"). She became aggressive only when this chain of stereotyped behavior was terminated and the aggression appeared to extinguish when it no longer led to escape from the termination of the "ritual". It is suggested that this is an example of a complex interaction between two behaviors and that it illustrates the need for very careful analysis of the functions of challenging behavior. Furthermore, it is proposed that the lengthening list of variables already documented as determinants of challenging behavior (provision of attention (verbal and physical), mechanical restraint, sensory or tangible events, escape from demands or from social attention, denials, escape from intrusive medical procedures, escape from task difficulty) be lengthened to include the possibility of escape from (or avoidance of) the interruption of a chain of complex stereotyped behavior or "ritual". (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1016/S0891-4222(99)00029-3
Subjects: B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology
Divisions: Divisions > Division for the Study of Law, Society and Social Justice > School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research > Tizard
Depositing User: A. Xie
Date Deposited: 21 Aug 2009 17:43 UTC
Last Modified: 16 Nov 2021 09:54 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/16448 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

University of Kent Author Information

  • Depositors only (login required):

Total unique views for this document in KAR since July 2020. For more details click on the image.