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Comparison of three procedures in reducing self-injurious behavior.
American Journal of Mental Deficiency
|March 1, 1976
Summary
Withdrawing food or attention during meals significantly reduced self-injurious behavior in profoundly retarded girls. Preventing eating was most effective, suggesting reinforcement plays a key role.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral Psychology
- Developmental Disabilities
- Applied Behavior Analysis
Background:
- Self-injurious behavior (SIB) is a significant challenge in individuals with profound intellectual disabilities.
- Understanding the function of SIB, particularly during specific routines like mealtimes, is crucial for effective intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of withdrawing food, attention, or both on the rate of SIB during mealtimes.
- To determine the effectiveness of contingent interruption of meal consumption in reducing SIB.
Main Methods:
- The study involved three profoundly retarded girls exhibiting self-injurious behavior during mealtimes.
- Experimental conditions included withdrawal of food, withdrawal of attention, and simultaneous withdrawal of both.
Main Results:
- Treatments that prevented eating (food withdrawal, or food and attention withdrawal) led to a marked reduction in SIB.
- Withdrawal of attention alone, allowing eating to continue, increased SIB in two subjects and had minimal effect on the third.
Conclusions:
- Contingent interruption of meal consumption is an effective strategy for reducing self-injurious behavior.
- The rate of SIB appears to be influenced by reinforcement contingencies, highlighting the importance of analyzing behavioral function.