Self-restraint as positive reinforcement for self-injurious behavior.
Many individuals who engage in self-injurious behavior (SIB) also exhibit self-restraint. We compared rates of SIB exhibited by a 32-year-old woman diagnosed with profound retardation across conditions in which access to restraint was (a) continuously available, (b) presented as a consequence for SIB, or (c) unavailable. Rates of SIB increased when access to restraint was contingent upon SIB and decreased when restraint was unavailable, suggesting that self-restraint functioned as positive reinforcement for SIB.
Smith
R G
RG
University of North Texas, USA.
Lerman
D C
DC
Iwata
B A
BA
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000523:psychology; D007389:Internal-External Control; D009042:Motivation; D012054:Reinforcement, Psychology; D012149:Restraint, Physical / Q000523:psychology*; D012648:Self Care / Q000523:psychology; D016728:Self-Injurious Behavior / Q000523:psychology*