Cited by 2,644Behavioral and Psychological StudiesSuicide and Self-Harm StudiesAutism Spectrum Disorder Research

Toward a functional analysis of self-injury

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Iwata, Brian A., Dorsey, Michael F., Slifer, Keith J., Bauman, Kenneth E., Richman, Gina S.·1994·Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis

Abstract

This study describes the use of an operant methodology to assess functional relationships between self‐injury and specific environmental events. The self‐injurious behaviors of nine developmentally disabled subjects were observed during periods of brief, repeated exposure to a series of analogue conditions. Each condition differed along one or more of the following dimensions: (1) play materials (present vs absent), (2) experimenter demands (high vs low), and (3) social attention (absent vs noncontingent vs contingent). Results showed a great deal of both between and within‐subject variability. However, in six of the nine subjects, higher levels of self‐injury were consistently associated with a specific stimulus condition, suggesting that within‐subject variability was a function of distinct features of the social and/or physical environment. These data are discussed in light of previously suggested hypotheses for the motivation of self‐injury, with particular emphasis on their implications for the selection of suitable treatments.

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  • Functional behavior analysis with individualized positive behavioral supports is rooted in a long history of behavioral analysis with a wealth of support for its effectiveness dating back to the 1960s.

    “This type of intervention is rooted in a long history of behavioral analysis that has a wealth of support for its effectiveness dating back to the 1960s.57”

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Research works printed but not linked: 5

  1. Holz, W. C., & Azrin, N. H. (1961). Discriminative properties of punishment. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 4, 225-232.
  2. Powell, J., Martindale, A., & Kulp, S. (1975). An eval- uation of time-sampling measures of behavior. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 8, 463-469.
  3. Rincover, A. (1978). Sensory extinction: A procedure for eliminating self-stimulatory behavior in psychotic chil- dren. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 6, 299- 310.
  4. Solnick, J. V., Rincover, A., & Peterson, C. R. (1977). Some determinants of the reinforcing and punishing ef- fects of timeout. Journal ofApplied Behavior Analysis, 10, 415-424.
  5. Ulman, J. D., & Sulzer-Azaroff, B. (1975). Multielement baseline design in educational research. In E. Ramp & G. Semb (Eds.), Behavior analysis: Areas of research and application. Englewood Cliffs, NewJersey: Prentice- Hall.

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Authors
Iwata, B. A., Dorsey, M. F., Slifer, K. J., Bauman, K. E., & Richman, G. S.
Affiliations
  • Kennedy Center (DK)
  • Johns Hopkins University (US)
Corresponding author
Iwata, Brian A.
Venue
Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis
Publisher
Wiley
Published
1994-06
Volume
27
Issue
2
Pages
197-209
ISSN
  • 0021-8855 (ISSN-L)
  • 1938-3703
OpenAlex
W2068705155
Cited by
2,644
References
49
Citations by year
2026: 50 · 2025: 75 · 2024: 94 · 2023: 117 · 2022: 93 · 2021: 139 · 2020: 112 · 2019: 118 · 2018: 110 · 2017: 111 · 2016: 95 · 2015: 105 · 2014: 104 · 2013: 121 · 2012: 117
FWCI
51.95
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
U.S. Public Health Service (000-917-15-0)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Behavioral and Psychological Studies
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Suicide and Self-Harm Studies
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
Keywords
self-harm, functional analysis, developmental disabilities, social attention, play materials, within-person variability, treatment selection
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Child, Preschool, Environment, Female, Humans, Infant, Male, Intellectual Disability, Reinforcement, Psychology, Severity of Illness Index, Task Performance and Analysis, Self-Injurious Behavior

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