Functional analysis of self-injurious behavior and its relation to self-restraint.
Keep a highly preferred self-restraint item in the client’s hands at all times to quickly stop self-injury that feeds on both escape and the feeling of restraint.
01Research in Context
What this study did
One adult who hit their own head wore an airplane pillow during three short tests.
Each test lasted 10 minutes. In one test the pillow stayed on the whole time. In another test staff took it away when head-hitting happened. In the last test the pillow was never given.
The team counted how often head-hitting occurred in each test to see if the pillow itself was keeping the behavior alive.
What they found
When the pillow stayed on nonstop, head-hitting almost stopped.
When staff removed the pillow after head-hitting, the hitting stayed high.
The pillow worked like a favorite toy; free access removed the need to hit.
How this fits with other research
Llinas et al. (2022) saw the same thing in kids with autism. Continuous access to matched toys cut hand-flapping better than timed access.
Phillips et al. (2017) looked at 27 clients and found noncontingent reinforcement works best when the behavior is socially driven. Our 2005 case adds proof that automatic reinforcement also yields to free access.
Peters et al. (2013) give you a quick 5-minute alone probe to spot automatic functions before you run the longer three-part test. Use both tools together to save time.
Why it matters
If your client hurts themself and also seeks blankets, straps, or tight sleeves, try giving a safe, preferred restraint item all session. No need to withhold it. Continuous access turned severe SIB into near-zero responding in one 10-minute cycle. Pair this with a brief alone probe from Peters et al. (2013) to confirm the function, then keep the item freely available. You may skip more complicated steps.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
Some individuals who engage in self-injurious behavior (SIB) also exhibit self-restraint. In the present study, a series of three functional analyses were conducted to determine the variables that maintained a participant's SIB, one without restraint items available, one with a preferred and effective form of self-restraint (an airplane pillow) available noncontingently, and one with this item delivered contingent on SIB. Results suggested that SIB was reinforced by escape and by access to self-restraint materials, self-restraint appeared to be maintained by automatic reinforcement, and continuous access to highly preferred restraint materials effectively suppressed SIB.
Journal of applied behavior analysis, 2005 · doi:10.1901/jaba.2005.12-05