This week I partnered with our guest expert host, Dr. Erica Feuerbacher, to chat with Dr. Lindsay Mehrkam all about behavioral functions. A behavioral function is what the behavior produces, which is a consequence, which maintains the behavior. We discuss some common behavioral functions, why knowing the function for the problem (or desired) behavior in an individual animal is critical, and how to use your knowledge of the function to develop an efficacious intervention. Importantly, we also discuss the procedure called the “Functional Analysis” (FA) used to identify the function of a behavior, including the purpose of the FA, how it generally works, and how you can learn more. Throughout, we cover some of the critical initial and recent research on behavioral functions in both people and animals, much of which is listed below.
Links:
Lindsay Mehrkam, PhD, BCBA-D: https://www.monmouth.edu/directory/profiles/lindsay-r-mehrkam/
Erica Feuerbacher, PhD, BCBA-D: https://www.apsc.vt.edu/OurPeople/Faculty/Erica-Feuerbacher.html
References:
Dorey, N. R., Rosales-Ruiz, J., Smith, R., & Lovelace, B. (2009). Functional analysis and treatment of self-injury in a captive olive baboon. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 42, 785-794. http://dx.doi.org/10.1901/jaba.2009.42-785
Dorey, N. R., Tobias, J. S., Udell, M. A. R., & Wynne, C. D. L. (2012). Decreasing dog problem behavior with functional analysis: Linking diagnoses to treatment. Journal of Veterinary Behavior: Clinical Applications and Research, 7, 276-282. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jveb.2011.10.002
Feuerbacher, E. N., & Wynne, C. D. (2016). Application of functional analysis methods to assess human-dog interactions. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 49, 970-974. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jaba.318
Hall, N. J., Protopopova, A., & Wynne, C. D. L. (2015). The role of environmental and owner-provided consequences in canine stereotypy and compulsive behavior. Journal of Veterinary Behavior: Clinical Applications and Research, 10, 24-35. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jveb.2014.10.005
Iwata, B. A., Dorsey, M. F., Slifer, K. J., Bauman, K. E., & Richman, G. S. (1994). Toward a functional analysis of self-injury. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 27, 197-209. http://dx.doi.org/10.1901/jaba.1994.27-197
Morris, K. L. and Slocum, S. K. (2019), Functional analysis and treatment of self‐injurious feather plucking in a black vulture (Coragyps atratus). Jnl of Applied Behav Analysis. doi:10.1002/jaba.639
Winslow, T., Payne, S. W., & Massoudi, K. A. (2018). Functional analysis and treatment of problem behavior in 3 animal shelter dogs. Journal of Veterinary Behavior, 26, 27-37. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jveb.2018.04.004
Length: 1 hr, 4 min
CEUs Offered: Yes (0.5 CEUs) – submit your CEU request
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