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Journal of Learning Disabilities
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Effects of functional versus non-functional explanations for challenging behaviours on treatment acceptability

Darragh Mccausland

Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland

Ian M. Grey

Stewarts Hospital Services and Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland

Gry Wester

Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland

Brian McClean

Brothers of Charity, Roscommon, Ireland

The study evaluated the effects of type of information naive participants received about challenging behaviour on ratings of acceptability of two multi-element treatment plans. Three groups of 20 undergraduate students with no experience of intellectual disability watched an identical 5 minute acted video of an individual with an intellectual disability engage in aggressive behaviour. Voiceover on the video differed: one group was exposed to information derived from a functional assessment, one to causal information that reflected personality and emotional factors, and the third to no causal information. Participants then rated two multielement treatment plans: one based upon functional assessment, and the other upon general non-aversive interventions. Results indicate that all groups were more accepting of the functional plan. However, individuals exposed to information derived from functional assessment were less accepting of non-functional treatment plans. Results have implications for staff cultures and the explanations for challenging behaviours that these cultures endorse.

Key Words: challenging behaviour • function based interventions • staff culture • treatment acceptability

Journal of Learning Disabilities, Vol. 8, No. 4, 351-369 (2004)
DOI: 10.1177/1469004704047505
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