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Self-Injurious Behavior |
Thursday, November 29, 2001 |
1:00 PM–1:50 PM |
Council Hall |
Area: DDA |
Chair: Raimo Lappalainen (University of Tampere, Finland) |
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Descriptive Analysis of Multiple Topographies of Self-Injurious Behaviors in Individuals with Cornelia de Lange Syndrome |
Domain: Applied Behavior Analysis |
JENNY SLONEEM (University of Birmingham, England), Kate Arron (University of Birmingham, England), Christopher Oliver (University of Birmingham, England), Scott S. Hall (University of Birmingham, England) |
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Abstract: Self-injurious behavior (SIB) is commonly reported in individuals with Cornelia de Lange syndrome. Few studies however have investigated the environmental factors maintaining these behaviours. In this study, individuals diagnosed with CdLS who showed high rates of SIB were observed for four hours interacting with their teachers at school. Comparison children without CdLS were also observed. Different topographies of SIB were carefully coded and related to environmental events using the methodology described by Lerman & Iwata (1993). Results suggested that across children, some topographies of SIB (e.g., skin picking) were unrelated to environmental events whereas for other topographies, the SIB appeared to indicate a social function. These data support the need for an analysis of separate topographies of SIB when conducting functional assessments. |
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On the Relationship between Self-Restraint and Self-Injurious Behavior |
Domain: Applied Behavior Analysis |
DEBBIE FOREMAN (University of Birmingham, England), Christopher Oliver (University of Birmingham, England), Scott S. Hall (University of Birmingham, England) |
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Abstract: Self-restraint is often associated with self-injurious behaviour (SIB) and has been described as an attempt to prevent or escape from SIB. Research into the determinants of self-restraint is limited and this single case study attempted to assess the maintenance of one individual’s self-restraint and SIB and to describe the relationship between the two behaviours. The individual was observed in his natural environment for 16.5 hours and data were collected on SIB, self-restraint and environmental events. Results showed SIB and self-restraint to be unrelated to environmental events, but self-restraint was significantly associated with the non- occurrence of SIB. Sequential analysis showed low levels of SIB prior to self- restraint and high levels after the offset of self-restraint suggesting that the self- restraint was terminated to allow SIB. These results provided indirect evidence to support the hypothesis that self- restraint was negatively reinforced by the avoidance of SIB. The implications of these findings for the behavioural theory of SIB were discussed as well as new ways to conceptualise self-restraint. |
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