Abstract
A severely retarded resident was released from a timeout chair only occasionally for brief periods of time. Under the timeout contingency alone, the subject made a choke response within minutes of being released. Attention, such as hugs, smiles, and candy was then increased, first by providing it non-contingently and continuously as long as there were no aggressive responses and then, by making it contingent upon incompatible responses. Under conditions of timeout plus increased attention, choking decreased aburptly. Grabbing responses, which increased when choking was reduced, were also reduced under conditions of timeout plus attention. Unrestrained time was gradually increased and all extra attention, i.e., more scheduled attention than provided other residents, was gradually withdrawn. When the resident was unrestrained all day and all extra attention was withdrawn, grabs and, to a lesser extent, chokes increased. Both were again reduced to a manageable level by scheduling several brief periods of attention each day. Hence, the program resulted in quick reductions that endured when the program was largely withdrawn. The changes in aggressive responding as a function of the presence and absence of extra attention suggest the importance of extra “positive reinforcement” in programs based upon positive reinforcement procedures and dealing with retarded residents for whom positive reinforcers may be scarce.
Full text
PDF
Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- Azrin N. H., Hutchinson R. R., Hake D. F. Extinction-induced aggression. J Exp Anal Behav. 1966 May;9(3):191–204. doi: 10.1901/jeab.1966.9-191. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Bostow D. E., Bailey J. B. Modification of severe disruptive and aggressive behavior using brief timeout and reinforcement procedures. J Appl Behav Anal. 1969 Spring;2(1):31–37. doi: 10.1901/jaba.1969.2-31. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Kelly J. F., Hake D. F. An extinction-induced increase in an aggressive response with humans. J Exp Anal Behav. 1970 Sep;14(2):153–164. doi: 10.1901/jeab.1970.14-153. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Lovaas O. I., Simmons J. Q. Manipulation of self-destruction in three retarded children. J Appl Behav Anal. 1969 Fall;2(3):143–157. doi: 10.1901/jaba.1969.2-143. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Peterson R. F., Peterson L. R. The use of positive reinforcement in the control of self-destructive behavior in a retarded boy. J Exp Child Psychol. 1968 Sep;6(3):351–360. doi: 10.1016/0022-0965(68)90116-1. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Risley T. R. The effects and side effects of punishing the autistic behaviors of a deviant child. J Appl Behav Anal. 1968 Spring;1(1):21–34. doi: 10.1901/jaba.1968.1-21. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Tate B. G., Baroff G. S. Aversive control of self-injurious behavior in a psychotic boy. Behav Res Ther. 1966 Nov;4(4):281–287. doi: 10.1016/0005-7967(66)90024-6. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Zeilberger J., Sampen S. E., Sloane H. N. Modification of a child's problem behaviors in the home with the mother as therapist. J Appl Behav Anal. 1968 Spring;1(1):47–53. doi: 10.1901/jaba.1968.1-47. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]