Understanding Behavioral Escalation: From Theory to Practice

This article describes various theoretical structures that guide our understanding of Behavior escalation. The conceptual and applied aspects of the article make it a timely tribute to the scholarship of the late Donald Baer, father of Behavior Analysis, Since the seminal article by Donald Baer and his colleagues on Some Current Dimensions of Applied Behavior Analysis (1968), educators and practitioners have strived for a better understanding the applications of Behavior analysis and social validity of Behavioral interventions for sustained effects. In keeping with most of Donald Baer's contributions to this field, this article is a dedication to his principles, beliefs and practice.