IN'^IRODUCTION Stereotyped behaviours, including self-injurious behaviours, are highly prevalent ... more IN'^IRODUCTION Stereotyped behaviours, including self-injurious behaviours, are highly prevalent within the poptilation of the severely and profoundly retarded (Berkson and Davenport, 1962; MacKay, McDonald and Morrissey, 1974). Because these behaviours ate often dangerous to the individual's well-being and reduce the individual's responsiveness to important environmental events (Koegel and Covert, 1972), procedures for reducing them have been identified and implemented. Ptinishment by means of electric shock (e.g. Baumeister and Forehand, 1972; Lovaas, Schaeffer and Simmons, 1965) has been shown to have immediate and durable supprcssive effects, but its use, and that of other harsh aversives, has been prohibited by legal restraints in most states (e.g. Wyatt vs. Stickney, 1972, Middle District, State of Alabama). This has necessitated the development of procediues of treatment that are effective, but arc perceptibly benign. One such procedure is differential reinforcement of an alternative behaviour (DRA), i.e. behaviour that is appropriate to the client's situation and desirable by the caretakers. This procedure is similar to the use of DRO schedules (e.g. Repp and Deitz, 1974; Repp, Deitz and Deitz, 1976; Repp, Deitz and Speir, 1974) in that reinforcement is contingent on other behaviour, but differs in that a specific alternative compatible or incompatible behaviour is rewarded (Young and Wincze, 1974). Although DRA is a relatively unresearched intervention strategy, it holds the potential of expanding the client's adaptive repertoire while replacing stereotyped behaviours (Young and Wincze, 1974). Previous research is unclear as to whether DRA alone is effective in accelerating adaptive behaviour (e.g. Lovaas, Freitag, Gold and Kassoria, 1965) or must be employed in a context of punishment for stereotyped behaviour (Risley, 1968). Lovaas et al. (1965) and Peterson and Peterson (1968) have reported some suppression of stereotyped behaviour with DRA; however, there have been no reports to date in which DRA successfully eliminated stereotyped behaviour. Another set of procedures which has enjoyed success in reducing stereotypy is Overcorrection (OC) (Foxx and Azrin, 1973). The general rationale of these procedures is to: (a) overcorrect the environmental effects of an inappropriate act to a
IN'^IRODUCTION Stereotyped behaviours, including self-injurious behaviours, are highly prevalent ... more IN'^IRODUCTION Stereotyped behaviours, including self-injurious behaviours, are highly prevalent within the poptilation of the severely and profoundly retarded (Berkson and Davenport, 1962; MacKay, McDonald and Morrissey, 1974). Because these behaviours ate often dangerous to the individual's well-being and reduce the individual's responsiveness to important environmental events (Koegel and Covert, 1972), procedures for reducing them have been identified and implemented. Ptinishment by means of electric shock (e.g. Baumeister and Forehand, 1972; Lovaas, Schaeffer and Simmons, 1965) has been shown to have immediate and durable supprcssive effects, but its use, and that of other harsh aversives, has been prohibited by legal restraints in most states (e.g. Wyatt vs. Stickney, 1972, Middle District, State of Alabama). This has necessitated the development of procediues of treatment that are effective, but arc perceptibly benign. One such procedure is differential reinforcement of an alternative behaviour (DRA), i.e. behaviour that is appropriate to the client's situation and desirable by the caretakers. This procedure is similar to the use of DRO schedules (e.g. Repp and Deitz, 1974; Repp, Deitz and Deitz, 1976; Repp, Deitz and Speir, 1974) in that reinforcement is contingent on other behaviour, but differs in that a specific alternative compatible or incompatible behaviour is rewarded (Young and Wincze, 1974). Although DRA is a relatively unresearched intervention strategy, it holds the potential of expanding the client's adaptive repertoire while replacing stereotyped behaviours (Young and Wincze, 1974). Previous research is unclear as to whether DRA alone is effective in accelerating adaptive behaviour (e.g. Lovaas, Freitag, Gold and Kassoria, 1965) or must be employed in a context of punishment for stereotyped behaviour (Risley, 1968). Lovaas et al. (1965) and Peterson and Peterson (1968) have reported some suppression of stereotyped behaviour with DRA; however, there have been no reports to date in which DRA successfully eliminated stereotyped behaviour. Another set of procedures which has enjoyed success in reducing stereotypy is Overcorrection (OC) (Foxx and Azrin, 1973). The general rationale of these procedures is to: (a) overcorrect the environmental effects of an inappropriate act to a
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