Behavioral Momentum in the Treatment of Escape-Motivated Stereotypy

Author(s)

Floyd C. Mace, Nova Southeastern UniversityFollow
Phillip Belfiore, Lehigh UniversityFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

Winter 1990

Publication Title

Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis

Volume

23

Issue/Number

4

First Page

507

ISSN

0021-8855

Last Page

514

Abstract/Excerpt

Descriptive and experimental analyses of stereotypy by a woman with severe mental retardation showed that the behavior was maintained by escape from demands. A sequence of high-probability requests issued immediately prior to a task-related request established a momentum of compliance that increased compliance with task-related demands. Increases in compliance were accompanied by collateral reductions in stereotypic behavior. A mechanism of response co-variation, called functional incompatibility, and an animal analogue study for testing the validity of this mechanism are proposed.

DOI

10.1901/jaba.1990.23-507

NSUWorks Citation

Mace, F. C., Belfiore, P. (1990). Behavioral Momentum in the Treatment of Escape-Motivated Stereotypy. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 23(4), 507-514.
Available at: https://nsuworks.nova.edu/cps_facarticles/363