A multi-component, interdisciplinary model is described which explains the presence of, and in other cases the lack of, many challenging behaviors associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). More specifically, the model expands the operant behavioral conditioning paradigm by taking into account medical comorbidities and interoceptive processing.
Keywords: aggression; autism spectrum disorders; challenging behaviors; interoception; medical comorbidities; self-harming behavior; self-injurious behavior.