title: Behavioral momentum in the treatment of escape-motivated stereotypy.
abstract: Descriptive and experimental analyses of stereotypy by a woman with severe mental retardation showed that the behavior was maintained by escape from demands. A sequence of high-probability requests issued immediately prior to a task-related request established a momentum of compliance that increased compliance with task-related demands. Increases in compliance were accompanied by collateral reductions in stereotypic behavior. A mechanism of response covariation, called functional incompatibility, and an animal analogue study for testing the validity of this mechanism are proposed.
authors.affiliation: University of Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: F C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Mace
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Belfiore
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D012054:Reinforcement, Psychology; D013239:Stereotyped Behavior