Treatment of an assaultive, sensory-impaired adolescent through a multicomponent behavioral program.
This project examined the effects of a multicomponent behavioral treatment program on assaultive behavior in a deaf, visually-impaired adolescent boy. Two types of assaultiveness were monitored: aggression towards adults and destruction of the physical environment. Intervention consisted of a token economy system, a response cost procedure, a "relaxation" technique, and skill training sessions. Through use of a multiple baseline across behaviors design, it was demonstrated that differentially reinforcing the absence of target behaviors on a weekly basis was the crucial ingredient in the treatment package. During a maintenance programming phase, the boy was gradually weaned off the token system. At 1- and 2-year follow-ups, no aggressive or destructive acts had occurred and the boy was showing improved communication and interpersonal skills.
D000293:Adolescent; D000374:Aggression / Q000523:psychology*; D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D003638:Deafness / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012917:Social Adjustment