Competition between positive and negative reinforcement in the treatment of escape behavior

Author/Creator ORCID

Date

1999-08

Department

Program

Citation of Original Publication

Lalli, Joseph S.; Vollmer, Timothy R.; Progar, Patrick R.; Wright, Carrie; Borrero, John; Daniel, Dency; Barthold, Christine Hoffner; Tocco, Kathy; May, William; Competition between positive and negative reinforcement in the treatment of escape behavior; Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis 32(3): 285–296 (1999); https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1284193/

Rights

This item is likely protected under Title 17 of the U.S. Copyright Law. Unless on a Creative Commons license, for uses protected by Copyright Law, contact the copyright holder or the author.

Abstract

We compared the effects of reinforcing compliance with either positive reinforcement (edible items) or negative reinforcement (a break) on 5 participants' escape-maintained problem behavior. Both procedures were assessed with or without extinction. Results showed that compliance was higher and problem behavior was lower for all participants when compliance produced an edible item rather than a break. Treatment gains were achieved without the use of extinction. Results are discussed regarding the use of positive reinforcement to treat escape behavior.