Vollmer T R
Department of Psychology, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge 70803.
Res Dev Disabil. 1994 May-Jun;15(3):187-207. doi: 10.1016/0891-4222(94)90011-6.
Automatic reinforcement refers to situations in which behavior is maintained by operant mechanisms independent of the social environment. A number of difficulties exist in conducting an adequate functional analysis of automatically reinforced aberrant behavior. For example, sources of reinforcement are often difficult or impossible to identify, manipulate, or control. Further, the development of treatments is often difficult because many behavioral interventions, such as timeout, involve manipulation of the social environment--an approach that may be functionally irrelevant in the case of automatic reinforcement. This article discusses the problems inherent in the analysis of automatically reinforced behavior and reviews four classes of treatment that are compatible with that behavioral function. The four types of intervention reviewed include manipulations of establishing operations, sensory extinction, differential reinforcement, and punishment. Suggestions for future research are discussed.
自动强化是指行为由独立于社会环境的操作性机制维持的情况。对自动强化的异常行为进行充分的功能分析存在许多困难。例如，强化源往往难以识别、操纵或控制。此外，治疗方法的开发通常也很困难，因为许多行为干预措施，如暂停，都涉及对社会环境的操纵——而这种方法在自动强化的情况下可能在功能上无关紧要。本文讨论了自动强化行为分析中固有的问题，并回顾了与该行为功能相兼容的四类治疗方法。所回顾的四种干预类型包括对建立操作的操纵、感觉消退、差别强化和惩罚。还讨论了对未来研究的建议。
