A procedure to teach self-control to children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

Binder, L. M., Dixon, M. R., & Ghezzi, P. M. (2000). A procedure to teach self-control to children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 33, 233-237.

This study examined the use of a progressive delay procedure combined with verbal mediation to teach self-control to children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Results showed that when participants were initially given the choice between an immediate smaller reinforcer and a larger delayed reinforcer, all participants chose the smaller reinforcer. When slight delays to obtain a larger reinforcer were instated in conjunction with intervening verbal activity, all participants demonstrated self-control regardless of the content of the verbal activity.

DESCRIPTORS: choice, self-control, impulsivity, delayed reinforcement, children