Ayllon, T., & Azrin, N. H. (1965).
The measurement and reinforcement of behavior of psychotics.
Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior,
8, 357-383.
An attempt was made to strengthen behaviors of psychotics by
applying operant reinforcement principles in a mental hospital
ward. The behaviors studied were necessary and/or useful for the
patient to function in the hospital environment. Reinforcement
consisted of the opportunity to engage in activities that had a
high level of occurrence when freely allowed. Tokens were used as
conditioned reinforcers to bridge the delay between behavior and
reinforcement. Emphasis was placed on objective definition and
quantification of the responses and reinforcers and upon
programming and recording procedures. Standardizing the objective
criteria permitted ward attendants to administer the program. The
procedures were found to be effective in maintaining the desired
adaptive behaviors for as long as the procedures were in effect.
In a series of six experiments, reinforced behaviors were
considerably reduced when the reinforcement procedure was
discontinued; the adaptive behaviors increased immediately when
the reinforcement procedure was re-introduced.