Smith, R. G., Lerman, D. C., & Iwata, B. A. (1996).
Self-restraint as positive reinforcement for self-injurious behavior.
Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis,
29, 99-102.
Many individuals who engage in self-injurious behavior (SIB) also
exhibit self-restraint. We compared rates of SIB exhibited by a
32-year-old woman diagnosed with profound retardation across
conditions in which access to restraint was (a) continuously
available, (b) presented as a consequence for SIB, or (c)
unavailable. Rates of SIB increased when access to restraint was
contingent upon SIB and decreased when restraint was unavailable,
suggesting that self-restraint functioned as positive
reinforcement for SIB.
DESCRIPTORS: self-injurious behavior, restraint, self-restraint