Citation

Lucero WJ, Frieman J, Spoering K, Fehrenbacher J. Am. J. Ment. Defic. 1976; 80(5): 548-554.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1976, American Association on Mental Retardation)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

1275004

Abstract

In the present study the effects of withdrawal of food, withdrawal of attention, and the simultaneous withdrawal of food and attention on the rate of self-injurious behavior of three profoundly retarded girls during mealtime were investigated. The two treatments that prevented eating led to a marked reduction of self-injurious behavior. Application of the method allowing continuation of eating (withdrawal of attention) resulted in an increased rate of two subjects' self-injurious behavior and had little effect on the rate of self-injurious behavior of the third. An analysis of the data suggests that contingent interruption of meal consumption can reduce the behavior and that rates of self-injurious behavior vary as a result of reinforcement.

Language: en