THE ELIMINATION OF AUTISTIC SELF‐STIMULATORY BEHAVIOR BY OVERCORRECTION¹

TLDR

No widely used, proven method exists to eliminate self‑stimulatory behaviors in individuals with intellectual disabilities or autism. The authors devised an overcorrection protocol that requires children to practice the correct behavior after each self‑stimulatory act, applied to four children in a day‑care program and compared to punishment, reinforcement, aversive, and free‑reinforcement alternatives. The protocol eliminated all self‑stimulatory behaviors in the four children, proved more effective than the alternatives, and was rapid, enduring, and effective.

Abstract

No method is in general usage and of demonstrated effectiveness in eliminating the self‐stimulatory behaviors of retardates and autistics. An Overcorrection rationale was used to develop such a method. The Overcorrection procedures consisted of a period of practice in the correct mode of the behavior contingent upon self‐stimulatory behavior. The procedures were applied in a behavioral day‐care program to three retarded children and one autistic child who exhibited object‐mouthing, hand‐mouthing, head‐weaving and hand‐clapping. For some behaviors, comparisons were made between the Overcorrection procedure and several alternative procedures, such as physical punishment by a slap, reinforcement for nonself‐stimulatory behavior, a distasteful solution painted on the hand of a hand‐mouther, and free reinforcement. The Overcorrection procedures eliminated the self‐stimulatory behaviors of all four children in tutorial sessions and during the entire school day and were more effective than the alternative procedures in eliminating self‐stimulation. The Overcorrection procedures appear to be rapid, enduring, and effective methods of eliminating self‐stimulatory behavior.