Using decelerative contingencies to reduce the self-injurious behavior of people with multiple handicaps: the effects of response satiation?

The response satiation model of instrumental performance was used to establish contingencies to reduce the self-injurious behavior (SIB) of two adults with profound mental retardation and multiple handicaps. In Experiment 1, withdrawal designs indicated behavior reductions of 68% and 82%, respectively, when contingencies were implemented that required the participants to engage in leisure activities at greater than baseline levels if they continued to perform the SIB at their baseline level. Experiment 2 involved the transfer of the treatment to the participants' respective living areas using staff as trainers. The largest reductions in behavior were associated with treatment packages that contained response satiation contingencies, and generality of the treatment packages across locations and trainers occurred. The limitations of this study as an analysis of response satiation theory were noted; however, it was concluded that the response satiation approach to establishing contingencies for reducing SIB was worthy of future investigation.