Training an autistic client: the effect of brief restraint on disruptive behavior
- Resource Type
- Authors
- Phillip D. Tomporowski
- Source
- Journal of behavior therapy and experimental psychiatry. 14(2)
- Subject
- Restraint, Physical
Adolescent
Trainer
Disruptive behavior
education
Experimental and Cognitive Psychology
Developmental psychology
Psychiatry and Mental health
Clinical Psychology
Skills training
Self Stimulation
Arts and Humanities (miscellaneous)
Behavior Therapy
Humans
Female
Autistic Disorder
Reinforcement
Training program
Psychology
Clinical psychology
- Language
- ISSN
- 0005-7916
A profoundly retarded autistic client who was making no progress in self-help skill training sessions exhibited disruptive behaviors which were incompatible with training goals. These behaviors included withdrawal, self-stimulation and mascular rigidity. Following baseline measurement of the effectiveness of standard behavior-shaping techniques, brief restraint was implemented to decelerate the disruptive behaviors. During treatment conditions a two-trainer procedure was employed. All task-oriented behavior was followed by positive reinforcement. The disruptive behaviors of the client decreased following the introduction of the restraint procedure. As the disruptive behaviors were reduced, progress in a self-help training program was evidenced. Following a fading procedure a single trainer could control the behavior of the client via positive reinforcement alone.