Reducing Socially Inappropriate Behaviors

Primary aged students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), who have little to no communication skills often exhibit a higher rate of self-stimulatory behavior than their typically developing peers. Self-stimulatory behavior (SSB), specifically masturbation, is not considered socially acceptable. This study used an AB single subject research design to help a second grade student in a rural, Kentucky school increase socially appropriate behavior by decreasing instances of self-touching while simultaneously increasing more productive behaviors. Overcorrection with behavior cards and differential reinforcement of incompatible behaviors (DRI), used in tandem, to decrease frequency of self touching while also increasing the use of her hands in a socially acceptable manner (i.e playing with a rain stick or a book with different textures). Results show that this approach was effective in reducing the amount of frequency of the self-stimulatory behavior and increasing the socially appropriate behaviors over the course of the study