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Behavior modification of an autistic child
Author(s) -
Brawley Eleanor R.,
Harris Florence R.,
Allen K. Eileen,
Fleming Robert S.,
Peterson Robert F.
Publication year - 1969
Publication title -
behavioral science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.371
H-Index - 45
eISSN - 1099-1743
pISSN - 0005-7940
DOI - 10.1002/bs.3830140202
Subject(s) - reinforcement , psychology , developmental psychology , reliability (semiconductor) , compliance (psychology) , social psychology , power (physics) , physics , quantum mechanics
An autistic child was observed while on a hospital ward. Observation revealed that the clinical staff gave considerably more attention to his bizarre, inappropriate behavior than to acceptable responses. Subsequently these two classes of behavior were observed and recorded by independent observers whose reliability averaged 85 percent. Next the child was given social and primary reinforcement for appropriate behaviors which included compliance to requests, comprehensible verbalizations, use of play materials, and the learning of academic skills. Self‐hitting, junk verbalizations, and tantrums did not receive reinforcement. In order to demonstrate the role of contingent reinforcement, the contingencies were reversed for a four‐day period. Following the initial reinforcement procedures, responses such as comprehensible verbalizations climbed from two percent to 46 percent while withdrawn responses and junk verbalizations disappeared. When the reinforcement contingencies were reversed, some appropriate responses dropped 50 percent and inappropriate responses increased. When the original contingencies were reinstituted, the behaviors returned to previous treatment levels.