Competing stimuli in the treatment of multiply controlled problem behavior during hygiene routines

Ethan S. Long; Louis P. Hagopian; Iser G. Deleon; Jean Marie Marhefka; Dawn Resau

doi:10.1016/j.ridd.2003.01.001

Competing stimuli in the treatment of multiply controlled problem behavior during hygiene routines

Ethan S. Long
, Louis P. Hagopian
, Iser G. Deleon
, Jean Marie Marhefka
, Dawn Resau

Kennedy Krieger Institute

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

14 Scopus citations

Abstract

The current study describes the use of noncontingent competing stimuli in the treatment of problem behavior exhibited by three individuals during staff-assisted hygiene routines. Functional analyses revealed that particular topographies of problem behaviors appeared to be maintained by their own sensory consequences, whereas other topographies appeared to be maintained by escape from demands. Competing stimulus assessments were then conducted to identify items associated with low levels of automatically-maintained problem behavior and high levels of stimulus engagement. Stimuli associated with low levels of automatically-maintained problem behavior (competing stimuli) were then delivered noncontingently during staff-assisted hygiene routines that were problematic for each participant. In all three cases, substantial reductions in all problem behaviors were observed. These results are discussed in terms of the relative ease of this intervention and possible mechanisms underlying the effects of competing stimuli on behaviors maintained by different types of reinforcement.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	57-69
Number of pages	13
Journal	Research in Developmental Disabilities
Volume	26
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ridd.2003.01.001
State	Published - Jan 2005

Keywords

Automatic reinforcement
Competing stimuli
Escape-maintained problem behavior
Hygiene routines
Noncontingent reinforcement

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Developmental and Educational Psychology
Clinical Psychology

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10.1016/j.ridd.2003.01.001

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title = "Competing stimuli in the treatment of multiply controlled problem behavior during hygiene routines",

abstract = "The current study describes the use of noncontingent competing stimuli in the treatment of problem behavior exhibited by three individuals during staff-assisted hygiene routines. Functional analyses revealed that particular topographies of problem behaviors appeared to be maintained by their own sensory consequences, whereas other topographies appeared to be maintained by escape from demands. Competing stimulus assessments were then conducted to identify items associated with low levels of automatically-maintained problem behavior and high levels of stimulus engagement. Stimuli associated with low levels of automatically-maintained problem behavior (competing stimuli) were then delivered noncontingently during staff-assisted hygiene routines that were problematic for each participant. In all three cases, substantial reductions in all problem behaviors were observed. These results are discussed in terms of the relative ease of this intervention and possible mechanisms underlying the effects of competing stimuli on behaviors maintained by different types of reinforcement.",

keywords = "Automatic reinforcement, Competing stimuli, Escape-maintained problem behavior, Hygiene routines, Noncontingent reinforcement",

author = "Long, \{Ethan S.\} and Hagopian, \{Louis P.\} and Deleon, \{Iser G.\} and Marhefka, \{Jean Marie\} and Dawn Resau",

note = "Funding Information: This investigation was supported in part by Grant No. MCJ249149-02 from the Maternal and Child Health Service and Grant No. 1 R01 HD37837-01 from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development within the US Department of Health and Human Services. Copyright: Copyright 2008 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.",

year = "2005",

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doi = "10.1016/j.ridd.2003.01.001",

language = "English (US)",

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journal = "Research in Developmental Disabilities",

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AU - Hagopian, Louis P.

AU - Deleon, Iser G.

AU - Marhefka, Jean Marie

AU - Resau, Dawn

N1 - Funding Information: This investigation was supported in part by Grant No. MCJ249149-02 from the Maternal and Child Health Service and Grant No. 1 R01 HD37837-01 from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development within the US Department of Health and Human Services. Copyright: Copyright 2008 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.

PY - 2005/1

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N2 - The current study describes the use of noncontingent competing stimuli in the treatment of problem behavior exhibited by three individuals during staff-assisted hygiene routines. Functional analyses revealed that particular topographies of problem behaviors appeared to be maintained by their own sensory consequences, whereas other topographies appeared to be maintained by escape from demands. Competing stimulus assessments were then conducted to identify items associated with low levels of automatically-maintained problem behavior and high levels of stimulus engagement. Stimuli associated with low levels of automatically-maintained problem behavior (competing stimuli) were then delivered noncontingently during staff-assisted hygiene routines that were problematic for each participant. In all three cases, substantial reductions in all problem behaviors were observed. These results are discussed in terms of the relative ease of this intervention and possible mechanisms underlying the effects of competing stimuli on behaviors maintained by different types of reinforcement.

AB - The current study describes the use of noncontingent competing stimuli in the treatment of problem behavior exhibited by three individuals during staff-assisted hygiene routines. Functional analyses revealed that particular topographies of problem behaviors appeared to be maintained by their own sensory consequences, whereas other topographies appeared to be maintained by escape from demands. Competing stimulus assessments were then conducted to identify items associated with low levels of automatically-maintained problem behavior and high levels of stimulus engagement. Stimuli associated with low levels of automatically-maintained problem behavior (competing stimuli) were then delivered noncontingently during staff-assisted hygiene routines that were problematic for each participant. In all three cases, substantial reductions in all problem behaviors were observed. These results are discussed in terms of the relative ease of this intervention and possible mechanisms underlying the effects of competing stimuli on behaviors maintained by different types of reinforcement.

KW - Automatic reinforcement

KW - Competing stimuli

KW - Escape-maintained problem behavior

KW - Hygiene routines

KW - Noncontingent reinforcement

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Competing stimuli in the treatment of multiply controlled problem behavior during hygiene routines

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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