Use of behavioral techniques in a case of compulsive stealing.

Abstract

This study demonstrates the use of behavioral principles in the modification of a deviant behavior. The compulsive stealing of a lO-yr.-old resident of a home for mildly disturbed children was successfully eliminated over a 3i-mo. period. Records indicate that the behavior had been a source of difficulty for at least S yr. The behavior therapy was carried out in a field situation and made use of minimal professional time. The study demonstrates the use of nonprofession al individuals in the observation, recording, and modification of behavior. Implications are discussed for the role of the professional consultant as instructor in the application of behavior principles. Several investigators have demonstrated the effectiveness of behavioral techniques in the modification of so called deviant behaviors. These demonstrations have involved settings varying from the hospital (Ayllon & Michael, 19S9; Wolf, Risley, & Mees, 1964) and the nursery school (Harris, Wolf, & Baer, 1964) to the clinician's office (Wolpe, 1958) and the home (Boardman, 1962). Likewise, the modifications have varied from the establishment of new behavioral repertoires to the elimination of whole classes of behavior. An important feature of many demonstrations is that the change in behavior is often accomplished by relatively untrained, nonprofessional individuals. Hospital attendants, nursery school teachers, parents, and others have all been effective in the modification of deviant behaviors heretofore considered the domain of highly skilled and usually highly paid professional individuals. Usually these nonprofessionals have received very little special training. The implications for the efficient use of consultant time, the reduction of treatment costs, and the dispersion of therapeutic effectiveness are obvious. Bandura (1962) has pointed out that the professional individual can best spend his time instructing others in the application of behavioral principles and the work of several authors has suggested some very practical and ingenious 1 The author is grateful to the director and staff of the Arizona Children's Home for their cooperation. Special thanks to Catherine Randall and the Child Care Workers for their splendid effort and, in particular, to Maria who really made the study