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"Transitional objects" as establishing operations for thumb sucking: a case study

P C Friman1

  • 1Department of Psychology, University of Nevada, Reno 89557, USA.

Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis
|February 24, 2001
PubMed

Insights

A surgical cloth, acting as a transitional object, effectively reduced thumb sucking in a 3-year-old boy. The cloth

Area of Science:

  • Behavioral Psychology
  • Child Development

Background:

  • Thumb sucking is a common behavior in young children.
  • Transitional objects can aid in managing behaviors and promoting self-soothing.

Observation:

  • A 3-year-old boy's thumb sucking was observed in two settings: with a physical therapist and alone.
  • The presence or absence of a surgical cloth was manipulated.

Findings:

  • Thumb sucking occurred consistently when the surgical cloth was present.
  • Thumb sucking ceased when the surgical cloth was absent, irrespective of the environment.

Implications:

  • The surgical cloth acted as a significant transitional object, influencing thumb sucking behavior.
  • Findings suggest the utility of transitional objects in behavioral interventions for children.

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