Recent advances in the modification of establishing operations to reduce aberrant behavior

The term establishing operation (EO) refers to an event that alters the reinforcement effects of a particular stimulus. Although EOs have received more attention in the basic, non-human literature, reports of EO manipulations in the treatment of aberrant behavior are increasingly appearing. We discuss EO interventions for behaviors maintained by social positive reinforcement (e.g., noncontingent reinforcement), social negative reinforcement (e.g., noncontingent escape, curricular revision, demand fading), and automatic reinforcement (e.g., environmental enrichment, noncontingent stimulation, reduced aversive stimulation). Suggestions for future research concerning both specific EO interventions and the general manipulation of EOs as a behavior-change technique are provided.