Behavior Analysis: Research and Practice, Vol 26(3), Aug 2026, 165-174; doi:10.1037/bar0000340
Stereotypic or repetitive motor movements, object use, and speech have long been recognized as defining features of autism spectrum disorder. Ongoing debate surrounds the appropriateness of interventions to reduce these behaviors, with some cautioning against such practices or questioning their implementation, whereas others argue that intervention may be justified and advisable under certain conditions. Although objections to targeting stereotypy raise important ethical and practical concerns, a substantial body of literature demonstrates effective, socially valid strategies for addressing stereotypy when behavior reduction aligns with the individual’s goals. The present review evaluated the extent to which stereotypy remained a focus of behavior-analytic research between 2019 and 2023. Reviewers quantified experimental studies that addressed behavior reduction broadly and those that specifically focused on stereotypy. Findings indicated that stereotypy was targeted for reduction in approximately 10% of studies that included one or more behavior targeted for decrease and in approximately 3% of all studies that applied an independent variable for the purpose of bringing about behavior change. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved)