RESUMO
In order to examine the mechanism(s) responsible for response reductions from noncontingent reinforcement (NCR), multiple magnitudes and densities of NCR were superimposed on a variable ratio (VR) 3 schedule of contingent reinforcement for the performance of an arbitrary manual response. Data were collected on responding that occurred during access to the reinforcer separately from responding that occurred between reinforcer access intervals (i.e.. when the participant did not have access to the reinforcer). Higher magnitudes and denser schedules of NCR produced greater reductions in responding than did lower magnitudes and leaner schedules. Within-session response patterns suggested that decrements in responding were primarily a function of the increased amount of reinforcer access time associated with higher magnitudes and denser schedules of NCR. That is, it appeared that the participant consumed reinforcers (regardless of whether they were delivered contingently or noncontingently) when they were available and responded for contingent reinforcers primarily when reinforcers were absent.
Assuntos
Reforço Psicológico , Adolescente , Comportamento de Escolha , Extinção Psicológica , Feminino , Humanos , Deficiência Intelectual/psicologia , Deficiência Intelectual/terapia , Esquema de Reforço , Índice de Gravidade de DoençaRESUMO
Positive reinforcement was more effective than negative reinforcement in promoting compliance and reducing escape-maintained problem behavior for a child with autism. Escape extinction was then added while the child was given a choice between positive or negative reinforcement for compliance and the reinforcement schedule was thinned. When the reinforcement requirement reached 10 consecutive tasks, the treatment effects became inconsistent and reinforcer selection shifted from a strong preference for positive reinforcement to an unstable selection pattern.
Assuntos
Terapia Comportamental/métodos , Comportamento de Escolha , Esquema de Reforço , Comportamento Autodestrutivo/terapia , Transtornos do Comportamento Social/terapia , Transtorno Autístico/reabilitação , Criança , Feminino , Humanos , Reforço Psicológico , Comportamento Autodestrutivo/diagnóstico , Transtornos do Comportamento Social/diagnósticoRESUMO
The automatically reinforced self-injury of a girl with autism was treated by providing noncontingent access to a single set of preferred toys during 30-min sessions. The reductive effects of the intervention waned as the session progressed. Rotating toy sets after 10 min or providing access to multiple toy sets resulted in reductions that lasted the entire 30 min.
