Applied Behavior Analysis Technician (ABAT) Practice Test

What do escape behaviors typically involve?

1. Seeking attention

2. Ending an unpleasant situation

3. Engaging in social activities

4. Participating in reinforcement training

The correct answer is: Ending an unpleasant situation

Escape behaviors are actions taken by individuals to terminate or avoid an unpleasant or aversive situation. This type of behavior is often observed in contexts where a person feels discomfort, stress, or anxiety and seeks to remove themselves from that negative experience. For example, a child might throw a tantrum to avoid doing homework, as the tantrum serves to end the unpleasant task. In this context, the focus on ending an unpleasant situation accurately captures the essence of escape behavior since it is motivated by the desire to alleviate discomfort or distress. Understanding this concept is crucial in applied behavior analysis, as it guides the development of intervention strategies aimed at addressing and modifying such behaviors effectively. Other choices, while they may involve behaviors that can loosely relate to individual responses, do not specifically encapsulate the core definition of escape behaviors.