title: Functional analysis of self-injurious behavior and its relation to self-restraint.
abstract: Some individuals who engage in self-injurious behavior (SIB) also exhibit self-restraint. In the present study, a series of three functional analyses were conducted to determine the variables that maintained a participant's SIB, one without restraint items available, one with a preferred and effective form of self-restraint (an airplane pillow) available noncontingently, and one with this item delivered contingent on SIB. Results suggested that SIB was reinforced by escape and by access to self-restraint materials, self-restraint appeared to be maintained by automatic reinforcement, and continuous access to highly preferred restraint materials effectively suppressed SIB.
authors.affiliation: The New England Center for Children and Northeastern University, USA.
authors.forename: Griffin W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Rooker
authors.forename: Eileen M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Roscoe
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D004924:Escape Reaction; D005108:Extinction, Psychological; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012054:Reinforcement, Psychology; D020377:Self Efficacy; D016728:Self-Injurious Behavior / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology*; D012927:Social Control, Informal