Stimulus Fading and Transfer in the Treatment of Self‐restraint and Self‐injurious Behavior

Abstract

We conducted several manipulations of mechanical restraint properties during the course of treatment for two profoundly retarded adolescents who exhibited both self-restraint and self-injurious behavior. In study 1, a combination of prompting, differential reinforcement, and stimulus fading reduced one subject's self-restraint, which consisted of holding rigid tubes on his arms. Subsequently, stimulus control of both self-restraint and self-injurious behavior was transferred to tennis wrist bands. In study 2, a second subject's self-restraint-placing his hands in his pants-was immediately eliminated by the use of air splints. Additionally, differential reinforcement and airpressure fading resulted in the complete mobility of his arms and a substantial increase in appropriate behaviors. Results of this investigation suggest that stimulus fading and transfer may be valuable components in the elimination of self-restraint.

Descriptive Analysis of Self‐injurious Behaviour and Self‐restraint

“…1992). Others have considered self‐restraint and SIB to be members of the same response class (Pace et al . 1986), or to be functionally independent responses (Smith et al .…”

“…Other investigators have suggested that SIB and self‐restraint may be maintained by the same environmental events. For example, Pace et al . (1986) found that both self‐restraint and SIB shown by two individuals was maintained by escape from demands.…”

Clinical Evaluation of the Self‐injurious Behavior Inhibiting System (Sibis)

“…This approach was not taken in the present study because, in three of the four cases in which SIBIS was continued after formal data collection, there was no desire on the part ofparents or guardians to eliminate SIBIS. Other approaches that might be considered indude use of the SIBIS remote and stimulus fading, which has been used with other forms of mechanical restraints (Pace, Iwata, Edwards, & McCosh, 1986).…”

Treating Childhood Psychopathology and Developmental Disabilities

“…In other cases, it may be possible to gradually shape the form of self-restraint into one which is less restrictive and socially stigmatizing. Pace, Iwata, Edwards, and McCosh (1986) progessively modified self-restraint involving wearing rigid tubes on the arms to wearing of tennis wrist bands while maintaining low levels of SIB. However, additional intervention including shaping and reinforcement of behaviours involving removal of hands from restraint may also be necessary (Lerman, Iwata, Smith, & Vollmer, 1994).…”