Effects of warning stimuli for reinforcer withdrawal and task onset on self-injury.
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.
Mace
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Lehigh University, USA.
Shapiro
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Mace
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D002648:Child; D005108:Extinction, Psychological; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D012054:Reinforcement, Psychology; D016728:Self-Injurious Behavior / Q000628:therapy*