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Sensory extinction of stereotyped object‐dropping: Identification of a reinforcer for skill training
Author(s) -
Dalrymple Andrew J.
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
behavioral interventions
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.605
H-Index - 34
eISSN - 1099-078X
pISSN - 1072-0847
DOI - 10.1002/bin.2360040204
Subject(s) - psychology , sensory system , extinction (optical mineralogy) , reinforcement , sensory stimulation therapy , object (grammar) , contingency , audiology , cognitive psychology , developmental psychology , social psychology , artificial intelligence , computer science , medicine , paleontology , linguistics , philosophy , biology
Stereotyped motor behavior, resistant to treatment by nonaversive means, can be effectively reduced by sensory extinction. Sensory extinction is a procedure which can identify the powerful sensory reinforcers maintaining stereotyped behavior. In this single‐subject, multiple‐baseline experiment, the elimination of auditory feedback to a workshop trainee who was blind and profoundly retarded, extinguished stereotyped object‐dropping. Contingent auditory stimulation delivered for a fixed ratio of correct object placements increased correct responding. Results were discussed in terms of the utility of selecting reinforcers on the basis of empirical manipulations, such as sensory extinction, and in terms of self‐control versus contingency functions of sensory reinforcement.