The use of demand assessments in the assessment and treatment of challenging behavior.

Abstract

Selection of demands without a demand assessment could result in a failure to identify an escape function for escape-maintained challenging behavior. Demands may be categorized into two categories: low-aversive and high-aversive demands. Low-aversive demands are demands associated with little or no challenging behavior and high-aversive demands are demands associated with frequent or high rates of challenging behavior. High-aversive demands identified in the demand assessment are typically used in the subsequent assessment and treatment of challenging behavior.