Further analysis of idiosyncratic antecedent influences during the assessment and treatment of problem behavior

Recent research findings suggest that idiosyncratic variables can influence the outcomes of functional analyses (E. G. Carr, Yarbrough, & Langdon, 199 7). In the present study we examined idiosyncratic environment-behavior rel ations more precisely after identifying stimuli (i.e., a particular toy and social interaction) associated with increased levels of problem behavior. Two children, an 8-year-old boy with moderate mental retardation and a 5-ye ar-old boy with no developmental delays, participated. Results of functiona l analyses for both children indicated that idiosyncratic antecedent stimul i set the occasion for occurrences of problem behavior (hand biting or hand flapping) and that problem behavior persisted in the absence of social con tingencies. Further analyses were conducted to identify specific components of the stimuli that occasioned problem behavior. Treatments based on resul ts of the analyses successfully reduced self-injury and hand flapping.