Citation

Rooker GW, Hagopian LP, Haddock JN, Mezhoudi N, Arevalo AR. Behav. Dev. Bull. 2019; 24(2): 89-99.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, American Psychological Association)

DOI

10.1037/bdb0000090

PMID

32509138 PMCID

Abstract

Automatically reinforced Subtype 2 self-injurious behavior (ASIB) has been characterized as showing insensitivity to competing reinforcement contingencies in the contexts of both functional analyses and in treatment using reinforcement alone (Hagopian, Rooker, &Yenokyan, 2018). One question is whether this insensitivity is specific to Subtype 2 ASIB as response class in these contexts or whether it is represents a generalized response tendency of the individual that is evident across other response classes. To examine this question, we compared responding on a single-operant task under changing reinforcement schedules for three individuals with Subtype 2 ASIB, relative to a comparison group of three individuals with socially reinforced SIB (which is characterized by sensitivity to changes in reinforcement contingencies). As hypothesized, all individuals showed sensitivity to changes in contingencies. These results provide preliminary support that the insensitivity of Subtype 2 ASIB is a property specific to that response class in these contexts rather than a generalized response tendency of the individual.

Language: en

Keywords

automatic reinforcement; behavioral sensitivity; schedules of reinforcement; self-injurious behavior