Treating Self‐injury: Water Mist Spray Versus Facial Screening or Forced Arm Exercise

Abstract

In three experiments, the effect of water mist spray on self-injurious and collateral behaviors was compared with either facial screening or forced arm exercise. Water mist spray was as effective as facial screening in suppressing face-slapping in Experiment 1. However, it was not as effective as facial screening for self-injurious finger-licking in Experiment 2 or forced arm exercise for excessive ear-rubbing in Experiment 3. These results suggest that while water mist spray is effective, it may be less so than alternative procedures. In Experiments 2 and 3 there was a consistent decrease in the occurrence of untreated maladaptive behaviors. In addition, there was a moderate increase in appropriate social interaction in Experiment 2 and a substantial increase in Experiment 3.

On the Status of Knowledge for Using Punishment: Implications for Treating Behavior Disorders

“…In fact, applied research findings suggest that a variety of desirable and undesirable side effects can occur within and across individuals. Punishment of problem behavior has been associated with increases in appropriate behavior, such as compliance and toy play (e.g., Koegel, Firestone, Kramme, & Dunlap, 1974; and with decreases in unpunished inappropriate behavior, including aggression and crying (e.g., Bitgood, Crowe, Suarez, & Peters, 1980;Lovaas & Simmons, 1969;Ricketts et al, 1993;Singh, Watson, & Winton, 1986). On the other hand, decreases in appropriate behavior (e.g., toy play, speaking) and increases in unpunished problem behavior (e.g., aggression, emotional reactions, stereotypic behavior) also have been reported (e.g., Bitgood et al, 1980;Duker & Seys, 1996;Foxx & Azrin, 1973;Harris & Wolchick, 1979;Pendergrass, 1971;Singh, Manning, & Angell, 1982;Thompson et al, 1999).…”

A Functional Analysis of Self Injurious Behaviour

“…Such procedures have included placing a noxious substance such as lemon juice or pepper sauce in the client's mouth, waving a capsule of ammonia under the client's nose, or administering extremely brief and mild electric shocks. The effects of a fine mist of water applied to the face has also been evaluated (Dorsey et al, 1980;Singh et al, 1986).…”

An evaluation of a punisher assessment for decreasing automatically reinforced problem behavior

“…Negative punishment occurs when a stimulus is removed contingent on a response and the future likelihood of that responses decreases. Various punishment procedures (e.g., hands down, overcorrection, response cost) have been used successfully for decades to decrease challenging behavior in clinical settings (Baker, Rapp, & Carroll, 2010;Fisher, Piazza, Bowman, Hagopian, & Langdon, 1994;Fisher, Piazza, Bowman, Kurtz et al, 1994;Foxx & Azrin, 1973;Lerman & Toole, 2011;Singh, Watson, & Winton, 1986;Thompson, Iwata, Conners, & Roscoe, 1999).…”