title: Virtue rewarded: reinforcement and punishment in an acute psychiatric admission ward.
abstract: This study evaluated the naturally occurring behaviour of psychiatric patients in an acute psychiatric setting. Direct behavioural observations were carried out to determine the amount of time patients spent in interaction, with whom they interacted, and the nature of the interaction. Also examined were each respondent group's type and rate of interactive behavior. For much of the time no interactive behaviour was observed to occur, but much of the behaviour exhibited by patients was socially appropriate. When social interactions did occur, both fellow patients and staff tended to reinforce appropriate behaviour. However, nurses reinforced inappropriate crazy behaviour much less than did fellow-patients or non-nursing staff. Treatment implications are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Glenside Hospital, Eastwood, Adelaide, South Australia.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Positano
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Sandford
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Elzinga
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: James
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D009042:Motivation; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D011678:Punishment; D012201:Reward; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000628:therapy; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012919:Social Behavior; D012931:Social Environment