Vollmer, T. R., & Vorndran, C. M. (1998).
Assessment of self-injurious behavior maintained by access to self-restraint materials.
Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis,
31, 647-650.
This study replicates and extends prior research showing that
access to self-restraint materials can reinforce self-injurious
behavior (SIB). A functional analysis was conducted showing that
SIB occurred at differentially high rates when access to
restraint materials (a leather jacket) was made contingent on the
behavior. In addition, an alone condition during the functional
analysis showed that SIB did not occur in the absence of
restraint materials. Finally, a treatment analysis showed that
functional communication training was effective using an
alternative reinforcer.
DESCRIPTORS: self-injurious behavior, self-restraint, functional
analysis