Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Task as Reinforcer: a Reactive Alternative to Traditional Forms of Escape Extinction

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Behavior Analysis in Practice Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Inappropriate behaviors, ranging from passive resistance to physical aggression, property destruction, or self-injurious behavior frequently function for escape from or avoidance of non-preferred activities. Proactive procedures have been shown to be only moderately effective without the use of escape extinction, but escape extinction can produce negative side effects, and efforts have been made to find alternatives. The current study tested the efficacy of a reactive procedure that may serve as an alternative to traditional forms of escape extinction. In a multiple baseline across behavioral excesses, non-preferred activities, and participants, a timeout from the opportunity to work effectively reduced behavioral excesses and increased compliance with non-preferred activities. With one participant, a multiple baseline was implemented across instructional targets, resulting in an increased rate of skill acquisition after “wait outs” were introduced to each program.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Asmus, J. M., Ringdahl, J. E., Sellers, J. A., Call, N. A., Andelman, M. C., & Wacker, D. P. (2004). Use of a short-term inpatient model to evaluate aberrant behavior: outcome data summaries from 1996 to 2001. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 37, 283–204.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Athens, E. S., & Vollmer, T. R. (2010). An investigation of differential reinforcement of alternative behavior without extinction. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 43, 569–589.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Baum, W. M. (1974). Choice in free-ranging wild pigeons. Science, 185, 78–79.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Carr, E. & Durand, V. M. (1985). Reducing behavioral problems through functional communication training. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 18, 111–126.

  • Carr, E. G., Taylor, J., & Robinson, S. (1991). The effects of severe behavior problems in children on the teaching behaviors of adults. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 24, 523–535.

  • Carroll, R. A., Joachim, B. T., St. Peter, C. C., & Robinson, N. (2015). A comparison of error-correction procedures on skill acquisition during discrete trial instruction. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 48, 257–273.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Derby, K. M., Wacker, D. P., Sasso, G., Steege, M., Northup, J., Cigrand, K., et al. (1992). Brief functional assessment techniques to evaluate aberrant behavior in an outpatient setting: a summary of 79 cases. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 25, 713–721.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Dunlap, G., Kern-Dunlap, L., Clarke, S., & Robbins, F. R. (1991). Functional assessment, curricular revisions, and severe problem behaviors. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 24, 387–397.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Durand, V. M., & Merges, E. (2001). Functional communication training: a contemporary behavior analytic intervention for treating problem behaviors. Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities, 16, 110–119.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Foxx, R. M. (1982). Decreasing behaviors of severely retarded and autistic persons. Champaign, IL: Research Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Foxx, R. M., & Shapiro, S. T. (1978). The timeout ribbon: a nonexclusionary timeout procedure. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 11, 125–136.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Frost, L. A., & Bondy, A. S. (1994). The picture exchange communication system. Cherry Hill, NJ: Pyramid Educational Consultants.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hains, A. H., Fowler, S. A., Schwartz, I. S., Kottwitz, E., & Rosenkotter, L. (1989). A comparison of preschool and kindergarten teacher expectations for school readiness. Early Childhood Research Quarterly, 4, 75–88.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hall, R. V., Lund, D., & Jackson, D. (1968). Effects of teacher attention on study behavior. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 1, 1–12.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Herrnstein, R. J. (1961). Relative and absolutely strength of response as a function of frequency of reinforcement. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 4, 267–272.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Horner, R. H., Day, H. M., Sprague, J. R., O’Brien, M, & Heathfield, L. T. (1991). Interspersed Requests: A nonaversive procedure for reducing aggression and self-injury during instruction. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 24, 265–278.

  • Iwata, B. A., Pace, G. M., Dorsey, M. F., Zarcone, J. R., Vollmer, T. R., Smith, R. G., et al. (1994a). The functions of self-injurious behavior: an experimental-epidemiological analysis. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 27(2), 215–240.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Iwata, B. A., Pace, G. M., Cowdery, G. E., & Miltenberger, R. G. (1994b). What makes extinction work: an analysis of procedural form and function. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 27, 215–240.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Iwata, B. A., Pace, G. M., Kalsher, M. J., Cowdery, G. E., & Cataldo, M. F. (1990). Experimental analysis and extinction of self-injurious escape behavior. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 23, 11–27.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Kern, L., Delaney, B. A., Hilt, A., Bailin, D. E., & Elliot, C. (2002). An analysis of physical guidance as reinforcement of noncompliance. Behavior Modification, 26, 516–536.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lalli, J. S., Vollmer, T. R., Progar, P. R., Wright, C., Borrero, J., Daniel, D., et al. (1999). Competition between positive and negative reinforcement in the treatment of escape behavior. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 32(3), 285–296.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Lalli, J. S., Casey, S., Goh, H., & Merlino, J. (1994). Treatment of escape-maintained aberrant behavior with escape extinction and predictable routines. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 27, 705–714.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Laraway, S., Snycerski, S., Michael, J., & Poling, A. (2003). Motivating operations and terms to describe them: some further refinements. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 36, 407–414.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Lerman, D. C., & Iwata, B. A. (1995). Prevalence of the extinction burst and its attenuation during treatment. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 28, 93–94.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Lerman, D. C., Iwata, B. A., & Wallace, M. D. (1999). Side effects of extinction: prevalence of bursting and aggression during the treatment of self-injurious behavior. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 32, 1–8.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Mace, F. C., Hock, M. L., Lalli, J. S., West, B. J., Belfiore, P., Pinter, E., & Brown, D. K. (1988). Behavioral momentum in the treatment of non-compliance. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 21, 123–141.

  • Mason, S. A., & Iwata, B. A. (1990). Artifactual effects of sensory integrative therapy on self-injurious behavior. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 23, 261–270.

  • McConnachie, G., & Carr, E. G. (1997). The effects of child behavior problems on the maintenance of intervention fidelity. Behavior Modification, 21(2), 123–158.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • McCord, B. E., Thompson, R. J., & Iwata, B. A. (2001). Functional analysis and treatment of self-injury associated with transitions. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 34, 195–210.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Michael, J. L. (1993). Concepts and principles of behavior analysis. Kalamazoo, MI: Association for Behavior Analysis.

    Google Scholar 

  • Miles, N. I., & Wilder, D. A. (2009). The effects of behavioral skills training on caregiver implementation of guided compliance. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 42, 405–410.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Pace, G. M., Ivancic, M. T., & Jefferson, G. (1994). Stimulus fading as treatment for obscenity in a brain injured adult. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 27, 301–305.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Pace, G. M., Iwata, B. A., Cowdery, G. E., Andree, P. J., & McIntyre, T. (1993). Stimulus (instructional) fading during extinction of self-injurious escape behavior. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 26, 205–212.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Parrish, J. M., Cataldo, M. F., Kolko, D. J., Neef, N. A., & Egel, A. L. (1986). Experimental analysis of response covariation among compliance and inappropriate behaviors. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 19, 241–245.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Piazza, C. C., Fisher, W. W., Hanley, G. P., Remick, M. L., Contrucci, S. A., & Aitken, T. L. (1997). The use of positive and negative reinforcement in the treatment of escape-maintained destructive behavior. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 30, 279–298.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Piazza, C. C., Moes, & Fisher, W. W. (1996). Differential reinforcement of alternative behavior and demand fading in the treatment of escape-maintained destructive behavior. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 29, 569–572.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Repp, A. C., Felce, D., & Barton, L. E. (1988). Basing the treatment of stereotypic and self-injurious behaviors on hypotheses of their causes. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 21, 281–289.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Rodgers, T. A., & Iwata, B. A. (1991). An analysis of error-correction procedures during discrimination training. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 24, 775–781.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Rodriguez, N. M., Thompson, R. H., & Baynham, T. Y. (2010). Assessment of the relative effects of attention and escape on noncompliance. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 43, 143–147.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Russo, D. C., Cataldo, M. F., & Cushing, P. J. (1981). Compliance training and behavioral covariation in the treatment of multiple behavior problems. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 14, 209–222.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Shoen, S. F. (1983). The status of compliance technology: implications for programming. The Journal of Special Education, 17, 483–496.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sidman, M. (1989). Coercion and its fallout. Authors Cooperative, Inc.

  • Smith, R. G., & Iwata, B. A. (1997). Antecedent influences on behavior disorders. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 30, 343–375.

  • Steege, M. W., Wacker, D. P., Berg, W. K., Cigrand, K. K., & Cooper, L. J. (1989). The use of behavioral assessment to prescribe and evaluate treatments for severely handicapped children. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 22, 23–33.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Thompson, R. (2001). Utilization of a sterile environment to facilitate the acquisition of mands in children with autism. In John Esch (chair) Teaching verbal behavior to children with autism. Symposium conducted at the annual convention of the Association for Behavior Analysis, New Orleans, LA.

  • Vollmer, T. R., Iwata, B. A., Smith, R. G., & Rodgers. (1992). Reduction of multiple aberrant behaviors and concurrent development of self-care skills with differential reinforcement. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 13(3), 287–299.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Zarcone, J. R., Iwata, B. A., Mazaleski, J. L., & Smith, R. G. (1994). Momentum and extinction effects on self-injurious escape behavior and noncompliance. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 27, 649–658.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Zarcone, J. R., Iwata, B. A., Vollmer, T. R., Jagtiani, S., Smith, R. G., & Mazaleski, J. L. (1993). Extinction of self-injurious escape behavior with and without instructional fading. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 26, 353–360.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Whole Child Consulting, LLC, Dunnellon, FL, 34434, USA

    Steve Ward

  2. Chicago Autism Behavior Specialists, Itasca, IL, 60143, USA

    Amanda Parker & Angelina Perdikaris

Authors
  1. Steve Ward
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Amanda Parker
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Angelina Perdikaris
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Steve Ward.

Ethics declarations

Funding

This study was not funded by any grants or outside agencies.

Conflict of Interest

Author A declares that he has no conflict of interest. Author B declares that she has no conflict of interest. Author C declares that she has no conflict of interest.

Ethical Approval

All procedures were in accordance with the ethical standards of the agencies involved and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

Informed Consent

Informed consent was obtained from the parents of each individual participant included in the study.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Ward, S., Parker, A. & Perdikaris, A. Task as Reinforcer: a Reactive Alternative to Traditional Forms of Escape Extinction. Behav Analysis Practice 10, 22–34 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40617-016-0139-7

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40617-016-0139-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation