title: Effects of warning stimuli for reinforcer withdrawal and task onset on self-injury.
abstract: Results of a functional analysis of self-injurious behavior (SIB) in a child with autism showed that her SIB was maintained by access to preferred objects and escape or avoidance of task demands. Extinction and noncontingent reinforcement treatments were supplemented by presenting a statement combined with a picture cue at 30-s intervals indicating that a preferred object would be removed or a task would be presented. Warning stimuli in combination with extinction and noncontingent reinforcement reduced SIB to acceptable levels. SIB rates remained comparatively high in a control condition consisting of a 2-min delay to onset of reinforcer removal or task demands.
authors.affiliation: Lehigh University, USA.
authors.forename: A B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Mace
authors.forename: E S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Shapiro
authors.forename: F C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Mace
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D005108:Extinction, Psychological; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D012054:Reinforcement, Psychology; D016728:Self-Injurious Behavior / Q000628:therapy*