Study Evaluates Four Strategies to Reduce Resurgence of Destructive Behavior Based on Behavioral Momentum Theory

August 24, 2026 2 Min Read

Overview of Behavioral Momentum Theory and Resurgence

Behavioral Momentum Theory (BMT) offers a framework for understanding how certain treatment variables can influence the likelihood of resurgence— the return of previously reduced problematic behaviors—during and after behavioral interventions such as functional communication training.

Research on Four BMT-Informed Mitigation Strategies

A recent comprehensive analysis combined data from four prior studies along with new participant data, totaling 24 data sets, to compare the effectiveness of four BMT-informed strategies aimed at reducing resurgence of severe destructive behavior.

The four strategies examined were:

Implementing lean (lower) reinforcement rates for the target behavior during baseline phases.
Using lean reinforcement rates for alternative, appropriate behaviors during treatment.
Extending the overall duration of treatment.
Applying a combined approach incorporating all three of the above modifications.

Key Findings

Analysis showed that employing lean reinforcement rates during the baseline phase and the combined strategy that integrated all three refinements yielded the most substantial reductions in resurgence when measured relative to baseline behavior levels.

Implications for Behavioral Practice

These findings support BMT’s predictions about how manipulating reinforcement schedules can influence behavioral persistence and relapse. For practitioners, adjusting reinforcement rates during baseline and considering a multifaceted approach may be beneficial in minimizing the return of destructive behaviors after treatment.

Considerations and Future Directions

While these results are promising, they derive from controlled research settings with a limited number of participants. Further research is needed to confirm how these strategies perform across diverse populations and real-world clinical environments.

For more detailed information, see the original study published in the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis: Relative effects of four resurgence-mitigation strategies informed by behavioral momentum theory.