Which method is appropriate for handling behavior when it serves the function of escape?

The most effective approach for handling behaviors associated with the function of escape is to praise the completion of tasks or attempts. This strategy reinforces positive behavior by acknowledging and encouraging students when they complete tasks or make efforts toward completion, thereby reducing the likelihood of escape-maintained behavior in the future.

When individuals engage in behaviors to escape a task or demand, it indicates that they may feel overwhelmed or unable to meet the expectation being placed upon them. By offering praise, you provide motivation and positive reinforcement, which can enhance their willingness to engage with the task and reduce the desire to escape from it. This approach helps to build the student’s confidence and may reduce the need for them to use escape as a coping mechanism.

Other strategies, such as following through with demands despite resistance, may inadvertently reinforce the escape behavior by creating a more stressful environment. Avoiding demands entirely or allowing students to leave when they choose may not address the underlying skill deficits or anxiety related to the task, preventing the development of coping strategies and task engagement.