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Encyclopedia of Autism Spectrum Disorders pp 2105–2109Cite as

Overcorrection

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Definition

Overcorrection is a behavioral intervention developed by applied behavior analysts and is based on the belief that the problem behaviors of persons with autism spectrum disorders are maintained by social factors (e.g., attention from other people, escape, or avoidance of low-preference academic activities such as math) or nonsocial factors (e.g., sensory reinforcement). Overcorrection is a name given to an intervention procedure that consists of two components (restitution and/or positive practice). Restitution consists of requiring the person displaying problem behavior to correct their actions to a state that is vastly improved from what existed prior the occurrence of the problem behavior, sometimes repeatedly. For example, if a child throws a toy truck at his or her teacher, they might be required to pick up the truck and then clean up the play area of their classroom. Positive practice consists of having an individual engage an adaptive behavior that is functionally...

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References and Readings

  • Arzin, N. H., & Holz, W. C. (1966). Punishment. In W. K. Honig (Ed.), Operant behavior: Areas of research and application. New York: Appleton-Century-Crofts.

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  • Foxx, R. M., & Azrin, N. H. (1972). Restitution: A method of eliminating aggressive-disruptive behavior of retarded and brain damaged patients. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 10, 15–27.

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  • Foxx, R. M., & Bechtel, E. D. (1983). Overcorrection: A review and analysis. In S. Axelrod & J. Apsche (Eds.), The effects of punishment on human behavior (pp. 133–220). New York: Academic Press.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, University of Rochester Medical Center, 601 Elmwood Ave., Box 671, 14642, Rochester, NY, USA

    Dr. David McAdam

  2. Summit Educational Resources, Summit Academy, 150 Stahl Rd., 14068, Getzville, NY, USA

    Vicki Madaus Knapp (Chief Clinical Director)

Authors
  1. Dr. David McAdam
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  2. Vicki Madaus Knapp
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to David McAdam .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Irving B. Harris Professor of Child Psychiatry, Pediatrics and Psychology Yale University School of Medicine, Chief, Child Psychiatry Children's Hospital at Yale-New Haven Child Study Center, New Haven, CT, USA

    Fred R. Volkmar (Director, Child Study Center) (Director, Child Study Center)

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© 2013 Springer Science+Business Media New York

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McAdam, D., Knapp, V.M. (2013). Overcorrection. In: Volkmar, F.R. (eds) Encyclopedia of Autism Spectrum Disorders. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-1698-3_1305

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-1698-3_1305

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4419-1697-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4419-1698-3

  • eBook Packages: Behavioral Science

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