Generalized Reduction of Disruptive Behavior in Unsupervised Settings through Specific Toy Training

Abstract

This study was designed to achieve a reduction of disruptive behaviors in unsupervised settings through reinforcement of appropriate play behaviors in students with autism. In Experiment 1, two students were exposed to training consisting of differential reinforcement of appropriate play, verbal feedback and prompts for inappropriate play or disruptive behaviors, and a specific toy training condition which involved extrinsic reinforcement of specific components of toy play. This training resulted in decreases in disruptive behaviors accompanied by generalization and maintenance of appropriate play in an unsupervised setting. In a second experiment, two additional children exposed to the specific toy training procedure showed similar decreases in disruptive behaviors accompanied by generalization and maintenance of play skills. The results show that reinforcement of appropriate toy play is an effective means of reducing disruptive behaviors in unsupervised settings in children with autism.