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The occurrence of autistic children's self-stimulation as a function of familiar versus unfamiliar stimulus conditions

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Abstract

The present study was conducted to determine whether certain stimulus conditions were associated with high and low rates of autistic children's self-stimulation. Six autistic boys were assessed in situations varying along three dimensions: familiarity or unfamiliarity of setting, learning task, and therapist. Each child was observed in 10 10-min stimulus conditions, and trained observers recorded the occurrence of self-stimulation within each condition. The results of a 2 × 2 × 2 ANOVA indicated that self-stimulation occurred significantly more often with an unfamiliar than with a familiar therapist. Unfamiliar versus familiar setting and task were not significant effects, and there were no significant interactions. Also, significant differences were found within each condition, with self-stimulation increasing in frequency as the sessions progressed. Finally, there was a significant and negative correlation between the occurrence of self-stimulation and correct responding. These findings suggest several treatment strategies for facilitating a generalized suppression of autistic children's self-stimulation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Psychology, Social Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, University of Hawaii, 1400 Kapiolani Street, 96720, Hilo, Hawaii

    Mark A. Runco

  2. Claremont McKenna College and Claremont Graduate School, USA

    Marjorie H. Charlop

  3. University of California, San Diego

    Laura Schreibman

Authors
  1. Mark A. Runco
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  2. Marjorie H. Charlop
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  3. Laura Schreibman
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Additional information

This research was supported by U.S. Public Health Service Research Grants MH 28231 and MH 28210 from the National Institute of Mental Health.

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Runco, M.A., Charlop, M.H. & Schreibman, L. The occurrence of autistic children's self-stimulation as a function of familiar versus unfamiliar stimulus conditions. J Autism Dev Disord 16, 31–44 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01531576

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