Research article summary (published 30 Dec 1993):

What makes extinction work: an analysis of procedural form and function.

Full Abstract

We examined methods for determining how extinction should be applied to different functions of self-injurious behavior (SIB). Assessment data indicated that the head banging of 3 children with developmental disabilities was maintained by different reinforcement contingencies: One subject's SIB was positively reinforced by attention from adults, the 2nd subjects SIB was negatively reinforced by escape from educational tasks, and the 3rd subject's SIB appeared to be automatically reinforced or "self-stimulatory" in nature. Three functional variations of extinction--EXT (attention), EXT (escape), and EXT (sensory)--were evaluated, and each subject was exposed to at least two of these variations in reversal or multiple baseline designs. Reductions in SIB were observed only when implementation of "extinction" involved the discontinuation of reinforcement previously shown to be responsible for maintaining the behavior. These results highlight important differences among treatment techniques based on the same behavioral principle (extinction) when applied to topographically similar but functionally dissimilar responses, and further illustrate the practical implications of a functional analysis of behavior disorders for designing, selecting, and classifying therapeutic interventions.

Author information

Author/s: Iwata, B A (BA); Pace, G M (GM); Cowdery, G E (GE); Miltenberger, R G (RG);

Affiliation: University of Florida, Gainesville 32611.

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Journal of applied behavior analysis (J Appl Behav Anal), published in UNITED STATES. (Language: eng)

Reference: 1994-; vol 27 (issue 1) : pp 131-44

Dates: Created 1994/06/23; Completed 1994/06/23; Revised 2008/11/20;

PMID: 8188555, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 2/18/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Attention Behavior Therapy - methods Child Education of Mentally Retarded Extinction, Psychological Female Humans

Humans Male Mental Retardation - psychology; therapy Outcome and Process Assessment (Health Care) Reinforcement (Psychology) Self-Injurious Behavior - prevention & control; psychology Social Environment

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