Document Type

Dissertation

College

College of Arts and Sciences

Department

Psychology

Degree

PhD in Behavior Analysis

Dissertation Defense Date

2015

First Committee Member

Ahearn, William H.

Second Committee Member

Hanley, Gregory P.

Third Committee Member

Dickson, Chata A.

Additional Committee Member(s)

Bourret, Jason

Abstract

"Anxiety is a cluster of responses that can involve both operant and respondent behavior, which can be both public and/or private. These responses occur when an upcoming aversive stimulus is signaled. Despite the reported high comorbidity of autism and anxiety, there has been very limited research on how to best assess and treat anxiety, especially with lower-functioning individuals. In this study, anxiety was assessed in five lower-functioning individuals with autism, ranging in age from 10-19 years old. Anxiety was assessed by measuring behavior during baseline sessions, signals for an upcoming aversive event, and exposure to an aversive event. Anxiety was found to present in several different ways, as both conditioned activation and suppression, and both with and without problem behavior during the aversive event. Individualized treatments involving differential reinforcement of alternative responses and shaping were used to successfully reduce anxious responding in all four participants who displayed anxiety."

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