An evaluation of the effects of matched stimuli on behaviors maintained byautomatic reinforcement

The purpose of the current investigation eras to extend the literature on m atched stimuli to three dissimilar forms of aberrant behavior (dangerous cl imbing and jumping, saliva manipulation, and hand mouthing). The results of functional analyses suggested that each behavior was automatically reinfor ced. Preference assessments were used to identify two classes of stimuli: i tems that matched the hypothesized sensory consequences of aberrant behavio r (matched stimuli) and items that produced sensory consequences that were not similar to those produced by the aberrant behavior (:unmatched stimuli) . The effects of providing continuous and noncontingent access to either th e most highly preferred matched or the most highly preferred unmatched stim uli were assessed relative to a condition in which no stimuli were availabl e. Overall results suggested that providing access to items that matched th e hypothesized sensory consequences of aberrant behavior may be more effect ive than simply selecting stimuli either arbitrarily or based on the result s of preference assessments alone.