Results from several studies have suggested chat: the opportunity to engage
in stereotypic behavior may function as reinforcement for alternative, mor
e socially desirable behaviors. However, the procedural components of this
intervention include several distinct operations whose effects have not bee
n analyzed separately. While measuring the occurrence of stereotypy and an
alternative behavior (manipulation of leisure materials), we exposed 3 part
icipants to three or four components of a "stereotypy as reinforcement" con
tingency: (a) continuous access to materials, (b) prompts to manipulate mat
erials, (c) restricted access to stereotypy (i.e., response blocking), and
(d) access to stereotypy contingent on manipulating the materials. Continuo
us access to materials and prompting (a and b) produced negligible results.
Restriction of stereotypy (c) produced a large increase in the alternative
behavior of 2 participants, suggesting that response restriction per se ma
y occasion alternative behavior. However, contingent access to stereotypy (
d) was necessary to increase the 3rd participant's object manipulation; thi
s finding provided some support for the use of stereotypy as reinforcement
for alternative behavior. Finally, when transfer of the effects of interven
tion was assessed during periods in which active intervention components we
re withdrawn, the alternative behavior was maintained for 1 participant.