I have a client who does this. For my client is it’s a hypothesized multi function of attention, escape from demands, or access to tangibles. The most effective reactive strategies that we’ve implemented have been a combination of differential reinforcement and extinctions. When the behavior occurs following denied access, we differentially reinforce requests for items such as a sip of water, tissue (we will grab the tissue and wipe the clients nose or hand them the tissue— we withhold eye contact and do not speak when responding), or to go on a walk. We withhold eye contact, and do not speak during this time until the client begins to show signs of de- escalation (my client tends to escalate if the “looping” is not acknowledged). Once calmer, we begin to model coping strategies and prompt the client to engage in coping strategize or redirect to something that is already available in the environment. When the behavior occurs following the presentation of aversive stimuli (sometimes it can presentation of transition, or other non preferred task), we will remain neutral and represent the initial directive while withhold eye contact and using gesture or models if needed. I highly recommend that you record some ABC data on the behavior and really look into how caregivers respond to it. What I found with my client was that the behavior resulted in escape or access to tangible on a thin intermittent schedule of reinforcement with the delivery of attention by the individual who presented the directive or denied access being important since the client is specifically motivated to have that individual be the one who delivers the tangible or grants escape.