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STIMULUS FADING AND TRANSFER IN THE TREATMENT OF SELF‐RESTRAINT AND SELF‐INJURIOUS BEHAVIOR
Author(s) -
Pace Gary M.,
Iwata Brian A.,
Edwards Glynnis L.,
McCosh Kay C.
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
journal of applied behavior analysis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.1
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1938-3703
pISSN - 0021-8855
DOI - 10.1901/jaba.1986.19-381
Subject(s) - fading , reinforcement , stimulus (psychology) , differential reinforcement , psychology , stimulus control , self defense , audiology , developmental psychology , social psychology , cognitive psychology , medicine , neuroscience , nicotine , engineering , telecommunications , decoding methods , political science , law
We conducted several manipulations of mechanical restraint properties during the course of treatment for two profoundly retarded adolescents who exhibited both self‐restraint and self‐injurious behavior. In study 1, a combination of prompting, differential reinforcement, and stimulus fading reduced one subject's self‐restraint, which consisted of holding rigid tubes on his arms. Subsequently, stimulus control of both self‐restraint and self‐injurious behavior was transferred to tennis wrist bands. In study 2, a second subject's self‐restraint—placing his hands in his pants—was immediately eliminated by the use of air splints. Additionally, differential reinforcement and air‐pressure fading resulted in the complete mobility of his arms and a substantial increase in appropriate behaviors. Results of this investigation suggest that stimulus fading and transfer may be valuable components in the elimination of self‐restraint.