Using self-stimulation as reinforcement for autistic children.
This experiment examined the effects of using self-stimulatory behavior as reinforcement for spontaneous appropriate sentences in two autistic children. The children were put on a token system and always received one token for every spontaneous appropriate sentence they made. An ABABA design was employed. In condition A, the opportunity to self-stimulate was contingent on the payment of tokens (two tokens for 2 minutes of self-stimulation). In condition B, no tokens were required for self-stimulation. The results showed that both subjects exhibited a much higher rate of spontaneous appropriate sentences during the contingent self-stimulation (A) condition, demonstrating that self-stimulation functioned as an effective reinforcement. The possibility of using self-stimulation as reinforcement in the treatment of autistic children is discussed.
D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000628:therapy*; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012054:Reinforcement, Psychology; D012201:Reward; D012653:Self Stimulation; D014040:Token Economy; D014705:Verbal Behavior