After a pretreatment screening analysis suggested that rumination by a 19-year-old man with autism was maintained by automatic reinforcement, we evaluated his preference for three snack foods and the frequency of his rumination after consuming each. Rumination was more common after eating high-preference foods. We then examined noncontingent access to a type of lollipop (i.e., a Ring Pop™) to decrease rumination. The Ring Pop™ reduced rumination to moderately low levels. Next, to further decrease rumination, we added a reprimand, which reduced rumination to near zero levels. Finally, we evaluated the reprimand by itself, which resulted in a reduction in rumination roughly equivalent to that produced by the Ring Pop™.Results are discussed in terms of the source of reinforcement for rumination and the behavioral mechanisms responsible for intervention effects.
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