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ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SELF‐INJURIOUS BEHAVIOR AND SELF‐RESTRAINT
Author(s) -
Smith Richard G.,
Iwata Brian A.,
Vollmer Timothy R.,
Pace Gary M.
Publication year - 1992
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.1992.25-433
Subject(s) - psychology , self destructive behavior , functional analysis , developmental psychology , clinical psychology , self report study , self , injury prevention , poison control , social psychology , medicine , biochemistry , chemistry , environmental health , gene
Many individuals who exhibit self‐injurious behavior (SIB) also exhibit self‐restraint. Three hypotheses about the determinants of self‐restraint have been suggested: (a) Self‐restraint is maintained by escape from or avoidance of aversive aspects of SIB, (b) self‐restraint and SIB are members of the same functional class, and (c) self‐restraint and SIB are functionally independent. This study examined a method by which the relationship between self‐restraint and SIB may be investigated using functional analysis. Data were collected on the self‐restraint and SIB exhibited by 5 mentally retarded males, while conditions suspected to maintain SIB were manipulated. Results suggested that self‐restraint, like SIB, may be maintained by idiosyncratic contingencies. Implications of an understanding of self‐restraint for the analysis and treatment of SIB are discussed, as are some general possibilities for future research.