Experimental studies in childhood schizophrenia: Analysis of self-destructive behavior

摘要: Abstract This paper reports on three studies concerned with investigating variables which controlled self-destructive behaviors in a schizophrenic child. The included head- and arm-banging was usually so intense that the child's skin discolored, bruised, swollen. Methodologically, experimental procedure followed an intrasubject replication design involved repeated presentations of same order to insure reliability. results illustrate lawfulness regularity characterized behavior. data clearly show functional relationships between very specific environmental operations self-destruction: reinforcement extinction other given setting frequency magnitude behavior, delivery sympathetic comments, contingent upon occurrence increased its magnitude. Conceptually, system best fit observed inyolves consideration behavior as learned, operant, or instrumental social