Fisher, W. W., Grace, N. C., & Murphy, C. (1996).
Further analysis of the relationship between self-injury and self-restraint.
Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis,
29, 103-106.
It has been suggested that self-restraint, a phenomenon often
correlated with self-injurious behavior (SIB), may be maintained
by negative reinforcement in the form of escape from the aversive
properties of SIB (e.g., pain). We examined the effects of
blocking SIB (and presumably removing any aversive effects) on
the self-restraint of a 19-year-old male with severe mental
retardation. Consistent with the negative reinforcement
hypothesis, blocking SIB resulted in near-zero levels of SIB and
moderate reductions in self-restraint.
DESCRIPTORS: self-injurious behavior, self-restraint, negative
reinforcement