Experimental Analysis and Extinction of Self‐injurious Escape Behavior

Self Cite

112

The concept of reinforcer substitutability proposes a continuum of interactions among reinforcers in a given situation. At one end of this continuum, reinforcers are substitutable, with one reinforcer being readily traded for another. We conducted an analysis of reinforcers that were substitutable with those produced by self-injurious behavior (SIB). Three individuals with profound developmental disabilities, whose SIB appeared to be maintained by automatic reinforcement, participated. Results of three experiments showed that (a) object manipulation and SIB were inversely related when leisure materials and SIB were concurrently available, with participants showing almost complete preference for object manipulation; (b) attempts to reduce SIB using the preferred objects as reinforcers in differential reinforcement contingencies were unsuccessful for all 3 participants; and (c) participants' preferences for SIB or object manipulation systematically changed when reinforcer cost (the amount of effort required to obtain the object) was varied. Results of the three experiments illustrate the importance of examining interactions among concurrently available reinforcers when conducting reinforcer assessments.DESCRIPTORS: stereotypy, self-injurious behavior, reinforcer substitutability, differential reinforcement of other behavior Although considerable research has shown that many behavior problems are maintained by social reinforcement, such as attention from caregivers

Section: Richard G Smith University Of North Texasmentioning

confidence: 99%

An Analysis of Reinforcer Substitutability Using Object Manipulation and Self‐injury as Competing Responses

Shore

Iwata

DeLeon

et al. 1997

Self Cite

112

“…Previous investigations have evaluated the efficacy of extinction procedures in the reduction of aberrant behavior (Lerman & Iwata, 1996). The use of extinction has been associated with a number of behavioral patterns including a temporary increase in response frequency (Iwata, Pace, Kalsher, Cowdery, & Cataldo, 1990) and extinction-induced aggression (Goh & Iwata, 1994). On a practical level, then, extinction procedures may be difficult or even dangerous to implement (Peck et al, 1996).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

An Analysis of Choice Making in the Assessment of Young Children With Severe Behavior Problems

Harding

Wacker

Berg

et al. 1999

We examined how positive and negative reinforcement influenced time allocation, occurrence of problem behavior, and completion of parent instructions during a concurrent choice assessment with 2 preschool-aged children who displayed severe problem behavior in their homes. The children were given a series of concurrent choice options that varied availability of parent attention, access to preferred toys, and presentation of parent instructions. The results showed that both children consistently allocated their time to choice areas that included parent attention when no instructions were presented. When parent attention choice areas included the presentation of instructions, the children displayed differential patterns of behavior that appeared to be influenced by the presence or absence of preferred toys. The results extended previous applications of reinforcer assessment procedures by analyzing the relative influence of both positive and negative reinforcement within a concurrent-operants paradigm.DESCRIPTORS: choice making, preschool children, problem behaviorA number of applied investigations have evaluated the variables that influence choice with the goal of achieving better clinical outcomes in the reduction of problematic behavior (Fisher & Mazur, 1997). These studies have used a concurrent-operants arrangement in which two or more behaviors are concurrently available and each is correlated with an independent schedule of reinforcement. For example, investigators have examined various reinforcement dimensions (e.g., reinforcement rate, delay, and quality) to determine whether they have similar efThis research was supported by Grant R01-HD 29402 from the National Institutes of Child Health and Human Development of the National Institutes of Health. The opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the position or policy of that agency. The authors express their appreciation to the families who participated in this study. We also express our appreciation to Agnes DeRaad, Barbara Rankin, and Anjali Barretto for manuscript preparation.Jennifer Asmus is now at the University of Florida. Address correspondence and requests for reprints to Jay Harding, University Hospital School, Room 251, 100 Hawkins Drive, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242. fects in natural settings (e.g., Mace, Neef, Shade, & Mauro, 1994;Neef, Mace, & Shade, 1993;Neef, Shade, & Miller, 1994). As discussed by Neef et al. (1994), response alternatives in natural contexts are often asymmetrical across reinforcer dimensions. For example, an investigation by Neef et al. (1993) with students diagnosed as seriously emotionally disturbed showed that delays to reinforcement produced a bias toward the response alternative (choice) that provided more immediate access to reinforcement. A subsequent study by Neef et al. (1994) evaluated how specified reinforcer dimensions combined to influence the time allocated to two concurrent sets of math problems for youths with learning and behavior difficulties. The results showed that student resp...

“…When such a state of aversive stimulation exists and reinforcement (escape from the aversive stimulation) no longer results, we might expect to see severe, long-lasting extinction bursts coupled with other problem behaviors that have a history of producing escape because, as originally suggested by Skinner (1953, p. 150), the number of responses that occur during extinction may reflect the current strength of the relevant EO. Indeed, extended bursts during escape extinction have been reported in the literature Iwata, Pace, Kalsher, Cowdery, & Cataldo, 1990). Nonetheless such extinction bursts are often transitory (Iwata, Pace, Kalsher, Cowdery, & Cataldo, 1990) or are not reported (Lerman & Iwata, 1995).…”

Section: Analyzing Existing Treatments From An Eo Perspectivementioning

confidence: 91%

“…Indeed, extended bursts during escape extinction have been reported in the literature Iwata, Pace, Kalsher, Cowdery, & Cataldo, 1990). Nonetheless such extinction bursts are often transitory (Iwata, Pace, Kalsher, Cowdery, & Cataldo, 1990) or are not reported (Lerman & Iwata, 1995).…”

Section: Analyzing Existing Treatments From An Eo Perspectivementioning

confidence: 91%

“…For example, escape extinction (Iwata, Pace, Kalsher, Cowdery, & Cataldo, 1990) typically involves preventing escape from demands and, thus, maintaining in place the EO (demands) that evokes escape responses. When such a state of aversive stimulation exists and reinforcement (escape from the aversive stimulation) no longer results, we might expect to see severe, long-lasting extinction bursts coupled with other problem behaviors that have a history of producing escape because, as originally suggested by Skinner (1953, p. 150), the number of responses that occur during extinction may reflect the current strength of the relevant EO.…”

Section: Analyzing Existing Treatments From An Eo Perspectivementioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Establishing Operations: Implications for the Assessment, Treatment, and Prevention of Problem Behavior

McGill

1999

150

136

This paper seeks to integrate Michael's (1982Michael's ( , 1993 discussion of the concept of the establishing operation (EO) with existing conceptual and empirical analyses of problem behavior in people with developmental disabilities. The paper begins with a summary of Michael (1993), which seeks to describe his concept of the EO and place it briefly in historical context. The role of EOs in evoking and establishing motivation for problem behavior is considered in some detail. A case is made for the greater consideration of EOs in the functional analysis of problem behavior, and specific suggestions for detecting the operation of conditioned establishing operations are offered. Turning to treatment, the paper considers the role played by EOs in existing procedures and discusses the development of treatment strategies that seek to modify EOs, extinguish EOs, and modify the responses evoked by EOs. Finally, consideration is given to the implications of EOs for the more systemic treatment and prevention of problem behavior.