Effects and side-effects of a brief overcorrection procedure in reducing multiple self-stimulatory behaviour: a...

The use of positive practice overcorrection to reduce the classroom self-stimulatory behaviour of a mentally retarded child is described. An initial attempt to reduce four stereotyped hand movements through reinforcement of incompatible behaviour resulted in a decrease in three types of behaviour and an increase in the fourth. When one minute of positive practice overcorrection was then made contingent upon the increased behaviour, it was immediately reduced to near-zero levels with accompanying low occurrences of all other behaviour forms. Response suppression was durable following the evaluation of the overcorrection procedure at 2- and 3.5-month follow-ups.