An evaluation of contingency strength and response suppression.
Typically, functional analyses of severe problem behavior have been conducted in two ways: (a) The target response is reinforced immediately after it occurs, or (b) the target response is reinforced on some schedule thought to mimic a naturally occurring schedule. We evaluated the effects of contingency strength in reducing levels of problem behavior with 2 participants who had been diagnosed with developmental disabilities. Results showed that under a neutral contingency, one in which the probability of reinforcement for aggression was equal to the probability of reinforcement for the nonoccurrence of aggression, rates of aggression were suppressed to low levels for both participants.
Borrero
John C
JC
University of Florida, Gainesville 32611, USA.
Vollmer
Timothy R
TR
Wright
Carrie S
CS
D000293:Adolescent; D000374:Aggression / Q000523:psychology*; D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000379:methods; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003142:Communication; D007174:Disruptive, Impulse Control, and Conduct Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D015588:Observer Variation; D012054:Reinforcement, Psychology; D013663:Teaching / Q000379:methods