The effect of noncontingent sensory reinforcement, contingent sensory reinforcement, and response interruption on stereotypical and self-injurious behavior

Three analyses were conducted to assess the effects of different consequent stimuli on the rate of stereotypical and self-injurious behavior performed by two individuals with severe developmental disabilities and dual sensory impairments. An analogue functional analysis documented an undifferentiated pattern of problem behavior across all conditions for Participant 1. Data for Participant 2 indicated an undifferentiated pattern with lower frequencies in the demand condition. Stimuli chosen to compete with the type of sensory stimulation produced by the stereotypy and self-injurious behavior were presented noncontingently during play conditions. Noncontingent presentation of the specially selected stimuli resulted in reductions in stereotypy and self-injurious behavior. Finally, contingent presentation of the same stimuli with and without response interruption was assessed in a demand context. Contingent presentation of the specially selected stimuli plus response interruption resulted in more suppression than contingent sensory stimulus presentation alone. Results are discussed as to competing and concurrent schedules of reinforcement.