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Elimination of Self-Injurious Behaviour in an Autistic Child by use of Overcorrection

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 October 2014

Caroline Mohr
Affiliation:
Mental Retardation Division, Victorian Health Commission
Christopher F. Sharpley*
Affiliation:
Monash University, Victoria
*
Faculty of Education, Monash University, Clayton, Vic. 3168. Australia
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Abstract

Mild punishment, overcorrection and reinforcement of an alternative behaviour were used to reduce and eliminate the incidence of severe self-injurious behaviour in an autistic 12-year-old boy who had sustained major damage to his wrists and fingers. Data were collected over 10 × 30-minute periods per day and showed that banging and touching of a protective cast and later the injured hand itself were reduced to zero in approximately three weeks. The injury had healed and self-injurious behaviour was still extinguished at 10-month follow-up.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s) 1985

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References

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