title: Fading a concurrent activity during self-control training for children with autism.
abstract: We evaluated a modified technique for teaching self-control and increasing the duration of waiting for access to a preferred item among 3 children with autism. Participants initially chose an immediate small reinforcer over a delayed large reinforcer and a delayed large reinforcer with a concurrent activity requirement for the duration of the delay. When the delay to the larger reinforcer with the concurrent activity requirement was gradually increased from 0 s to the terminal delay, participants switched to and maintained selection of that option, thereby demonstrating increased self-control. Finally, the duration of the concurrent activity was gradually reduced without changing the duration of the delay to the large reinforcer. All 3 participants continued to select the delayed large reinforcer, showing self-controlled responding in the absence of a concurrent activity.
authors.affiliation: Florida Institute of Technology and the Scott Center for Autism Treatment.
authors.forename: Kaitlynn M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Gokey
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Wilder
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Welch
authors.forename: Aimee
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Collier
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mathisen
mesh_terms: D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D002755:Choice Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007175:Impulsive Behavior; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D012055:Reinforcement Schedule; D012054:Reinforcement, Psychology
keywords: autism; delay discounting; self-control