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Physical restraint as positive reinforcement
American Journal of Mental Deficiency
|January 1, 1981
Summary
Physical restraint can act as a reinforcer, increasing behaviors in individuals with intellectual disabilities who enjoy it. This finding has implications for understanding and treating challenging behaviors.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral Psychology
- Applied Behavior Analysis
Background:
- Investigating the reinforcing properties of physical restraint is crucial for understanding behavior maintenance.
- Previous observations suggested some individuals with intellectual disabilities may find restraint enjoyable.
Observation:
- Three individuals with a history of restraint and apparent enjoyment were studied.
- A preference paradigm and reversal design were employed to assess behavioral responses to restraint.
Findings:
- An arbitrary response systematically increased when followed by brief physical restraint for all participants.
- No increase in responding was observed when restraint was not used as a consequence or when control conditions were applied.
Implications:
- Understanding restraint's reinforcing function can help address behavior problems like self-injury.
- Strategies to prevent or eliminate restraint's reinforcing effects are important.
- Restraint reinforcement may be a viable therapeutic tool when other reinforcers are absent.
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