An Analysis of Autism as a Contingency-Shaped Disorder of Verbal Behavior

Abstract

This paper analyzes autism as a contingency-shaped disorder of verbal behavior. Contingencies of reinforcement in effect during the first to third year of a child's life may operate to establish and maintain those behaviors that later result in a diagnosis of autism. While neurobiological variables may, in some cases, predispose some children to be more or less responsive to environmental variables than others, our analysis suggests that reliance on neurobiological variables as causal factors in autism is unnecessary. We present six paradigms that may play critical etiologic roles in the development of behaviors labeled as autistic. Recognizing these contingencies and their resulting behaviors during the first two years of a child's life may contribute substantially to earlier identification, more effective treatment and, quite possibly, to the development of Applied Behavior Analysis programs for the prevention of autism that could be implemented immediately. Conceptualizing autism as a contingency-shaped disorder of verbal behavior may provide a new and potentially more effective paradigm for behavioral research and treatment in autism.

Relations Among Functional Systems in Behavior Analysis

“…Much as the statement ''genes cause behavior'' involves a dispositional misattribution, behavior analysts commit similar mistakes when they assert that autism is learned through differential reinforcement of autistic behavior (Drash & Tudor, 2004). Autism is not a set of behaviors to be learned.…”

A Review of Behavioral Foundations of Effective Autism Treatment

“…In Chapter 1, Newsom presents a chronological and critical recap of behavioral theories of ASDs covering a range of theorists (e.g., Drash & Tudor, 2004;Ferster & DeMyer, 1961;Lovaas & Smith, 1989;Thompson, 2005) and foci (escape/avoidance, stimulus control, brain abnormalities). Chapter 1 provides an invaluable resource for behavior analysts who encounter questions from caregivers and colleagues regarding theories of the etiology or causes of autism, and Newsom's nuanced summaries will prepare practitioners to describe strengths and limitations of historical and contemporary attempts to account for the onset and course of this heterogeneous disorder.…”

Is Autism a Preventable Disorder of Verbal Behavior? A Response to Five Commentaries

“…In our article "An Analysis of Autism as a Contingency-Shaped Disorder of Verbal Behavior" (Drash & Tudor, 2004) we presented a theoretical analysis that demonstrated how contingencies ofreinforcement operating between caregiver and infant during the first year to 18 months ofany typical infant's life might shape a repertoire ofbehaviors that could later result in a diagnosis of autism. We also presented six specific reinforcement paradigms that could theoretically prevent the acquisition of verbal behavior and other social behaviors and shape the spectrum of behaviors that might later result in a diagnosis of autism.…”

“…Extinction ofverbal behavior As we stated in our original article (Drash &Tudor, 2004), extinction of verbal behavior may potentially occur whenever any typical infant is placed in an environment in which caregivers do not actively prompt, respond to, and reinforce the infant's or child's vocal utterances. We presented several examples ofhow and where such extinction might occur, including care at home by a nanny, relatives, a baby sitter, some inhome infant-care placements, and some daycare settings.…”

“…

This paper presents a response to five commentaries on our article An Analysis ofAutism as a ContingencyShapedDisorder of Verbal Behavior (Drash & Tudor, 2004). One ofthe principal objectives ofthat article is to provide the behavior analysis community and the autism community with a conceptual basis for analyzing autism as a behavioral disorder rather than a neurological disorder.

…”