What is the definition of behavior that occurs without the influence of a therapeutic intervention?

The term that best describes behavior occurring without the influence of a therapeutic intervention is "baseline." In the context of music therapy (and other therapeutic practices), baseline refers to the initial data collected on a client’s behavior before any treatment is applied. This provides a reference point for understanding how the client behaves in the absence of interventions, allowing therapists to measure changes over time once treatment begins.

By establishing a baseline, music therapists can better assess the efficacy of their interventions. It serves as a foundational understanding of the client’s typical behaviors, which is essential for creating tailored therapeutic goals and strategies. Measuring behaviors against this baseline helps practitioners to identify any progress or alterations resulting from the therapeutic intervention.

The other concepts do not represent a state of behavior without intervention. Consequences refer to the results or outcomes of a behavior, anecdotal records are informal observational notes that document behavior during the therapeutic process, and frequency count is a method of quantifying how often a certain behavior occurs, typically in response to an intervention. Thus, baseline is the most accurate term for behavior that is unaffected by any therapeutic measures.