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Negative side effects of noncontingent reinforcement
T R Vollmer1, J E Ringdahl, H S Roane
1Louisiana State University, USA.
Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis
|April 1, 1997
Summary
Noncontingent reinforcement (NCR) can cause extinction bursts and incidental reinforcement. Adding an omission contingency to NCR effectively reduced severe aggression rates in this study.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral science
- Applied behavior analysis
Background:
- Noncontingent reinforcement (NCR) is a widely used intervention for severe behavior problems.
- Concerns exist regarding potential side effects like incidental reinforcement, though few have been documented.
Observation:
- This study evaluated an NCR treatment for severe aggression.
- Observed side effects included an extinction burst and incidental reinforcement.
- Within-session response patterns and distributions were analyzed to assess these side effects.
Findings:
- The NCR treatment initially produced an extinction burst and incidental reinforcement.
- Implementing a brief omission contingency alongside NCR successfully reduced aggression rates.
Implications:
- Omission contingencies can be a valuable addition to NCR protocols.
- This approach may mitigate negative side effects and enhance treatment efficacy for severe aggression.