Reducing Self-Injurious and Aggressive Behavior in Deaf-Blind Persons through Overcorrection

Abstract

The self-injurious or aggressive behaviors of three deaf-blind individuals (ages 5, 9, and 21) were reduced through application of overcorrection procedures by both professional and paraprofessional staff. When applied to the 21-year-old's aggressive behavior, her episodes of aggression declined immediately and dramatically, and her self-injurious behavior also declined. During 14 weeks of follow-up, the procedure continued to exert a controlling influence over both behaviors. Overcorrection was equally effective in controlling the self-injurious behavior of the two children.