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On the relationship between self-injurious behavior and self-restraint
R G Smith1, B A Iwata, T R Vollmer
1Department of Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville 32611.
Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis
|January 1, 1992
Summary
This study investigated self-restraint in individuals with self-injurious behavior (SIB). Findings suggest self-restraint may be maintained by unique contingencies, similar to SIB.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral Psychology
- Developmental Disabilities Research
Background:
- Self-injurious behavior (SIB) often co-occurs with self-restraint.
- The relationship between self-restraint and SIB is not fully understood.
- Existing hypotheses suggest escape, functional class membership, or independence between self-restraint and SIB.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between self-restraint and SIB using functional analysis.
- To explore the determinants maintaining self-restraint in individuals with SIB.
Main Methods:
- Functional analysis was employed to examine self-restraint and SIB.
- Conditions suspected of maintaining SIB were systematically manipulated.
- Data were collected from five mentally retarded males.
Main Results:
- Self-restraint, analogous to SIB, appears to be maintained by idiosyncratic contingencies.
- The study provides empirical support for investigating self-restraint within a functional framework.
Conclusions:
- Understanding the functional basis of self-restraint is crucial for the analysis and treatment of SIB.
- Further research is needed to explore the broader implications of these findings for behavioral interventions.