Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) Practice Test

A client shows aggression when food is withheld for several hours. This behavior illustrates the impact of what?

1. Conditioned reinforcement

2. Establishing operation

3. Discriminative stimulus

4. Maintaining operation

The correct answer is: Establishing operation

The behavior exhibited by the client, where aggression occurs when food is withheld for several hours, demonstrates the concept of establishing operation. An establishing operation is a condition that increases the value or effectiveness of a reinforcer and simultaneously increases the likelihood of behaviors associated with obtaining that reinforcer. In this case, the prolonged withholding of food creates a state of deprivation that makes food more valuable to the client. As a result, the client may engage in aggressive behaviors in an effort to obtain food, as their motivation is heightened due to the lack of access. This concept is crucial in understanding behavior analysis, particularly when developing interventions or strategies to address challenging behavior. Recognizing that withholding a certain reinforcer (in this case, food) can lead to adverse behaviors helps behavior analysts formulate effective response strategies. It underlines the idea that behaviors can be influenced by changes in the environment or circumstances, such as hunger levels.