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THE EFFECTS OF RESPONSE COST IN THE TREATMENT OF ABERRANT BEHAVIOR MAINTAINED BY NEGATIVE REINFORCEMENT
Author(s) -
Keeney Kris M.,
Fisher Wayne W.,
Adelinis John D.,
Wilder David A.
Publication year - 2000
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.2000.33-255
Subject(s) - reinforcement , psychology , contingency , contingency management , stimulus (psychology) , escape response , multiple baseline design , token economy , developmental psychology , stimulus control , social psychology , cognitive psychology , neuroscience , psychiatry , linguistics , philosophy , nicotine , intervention (counseling)
Positive reinforcement contingencies can sometimes be used to decrease problem behavior maintained by negative reinforcement (e.g., escape). In the current study, we evaluated the extent to which response cost (i.e., contingent removal of a preferred stimulus) would compete with the negative reinforcer maintaining destructive behavior. The response cost contingency reduced destructive behavior by 87% from baseline levels even though the negative reinforcement contingency (i.e., escape) remained in place.