Premium
The Use of Self‐Selected Activities and Social Reinforcement in the Management of Self‐Injurious Behaviour
Author(s) -
MANDER BARBARA,
LYON BERNADETTE
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
australian occupational therapy journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.595
H-Index - 44
eISSN - 1440-1630
pISSN - 0045-0766
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-1630.1988.tb01605.x
Subject(s) - differential reinforcement , psychology , reinforcement , challenging behaviour , intervention (counseling) , developmental psychology , intellectual disability , social psychology , psychiatry
Studies show that between 8% and 14% of institutionalised clients engage in self‐injurious behaviour (SIB) and that most of these clients are severely or profoundly developmentally disabled. Using an operant theory approach with activities as a medium for differential re‐inforcement of other behaviour (DRO) and for differential re‐inforcement of incompatible behaviour (DRI) a programme was introduced for eight clients in two hostels for persons with intellectual and physical handicaps. Elbow splints were used in some cases plus food and social re‐inforcement. The intervention reduced self‐injurious behaviour in all but one case. As a result of individual analysis, activities selected in the sensory mode of the behaviour proved effective and the introduction of general activity periods helped maintain the reduction. Issues of staff participation, client acceptability to staff, programme ownership and and selection of activities were addressed.