Dorothea C. Lerman, Laura R. Addison, & Tiffany Kodak. (2006)
A preliminary analysis of self-control with aversive events:
The effects of task magnitude and delay on the choices of children with autism.
Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis,
39, 227-232.
When faced with a choice between two aversive events, a person
exhibits self-control by choosing a smaller, more immediate
aversive event over a larger, delayed aversive event. Task
demands are often aversive to children with autism and other
developmental disabilities. The purpose of this study was to
evaluate behavioral sensitivity to differences in the amount
and delay of tasks as part of a preliminary study on
self-control. Participants were 2 children with autism
who engaged in problem behavior maintained by escape.
Results indicated a lack of self-control with respect
to choosing between two aversive tasks and suggested
potential strategies for increasing self-control (i.e.,
choosing a small immediate task over a large delayed task).
DESCRIPTORS: aversive events, self-control, task magnitude, task delay