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| Intractable Head-Directed Self-Injurious Behavior: A Functional Reconsideration |
| Sunday, May 25, 2025 |
| 3:00 PM–3:50 PM |
| Marriott Marquis, M2 Level, Marquis Salon 1-5 |
| Area: PRA; Domain: Applied Research |
| Chair: Meral Koldas (University of Nebraska Medical Center Munroe Meyer Institute ) |
| CE Instructor: Gregory P. Hanley, Ph.D. |
| Presenting Author: GREGORY P. HANLEY (FTF Behavioral Consulting) |
| Abstract: When head-directed self-injurious behavior occurs under most or all conditions without any reliable antecedents, behavior analysts often describe the behavior as being automatically reinforced (Vollmer, 1994). Contemporary approaches attempt to differentiate sub-types of automatic reinforcement with the aim to improve treatment outcomes (Hagopian, Rooker, & Zarcone, 2015), but automatically reinforced HD-SIB remains among the most treatment-resistant types of problem behavior confronting behavior analytic practitioners. Despite the general utility of the concept of automatic reinforcement (Skinner, 1953, 1957, 1968, 1969; Vaughn & Michael, 1982), an argument for abandoning the concept when assessing and treating HD-SIB will be presented. An alternative framework will be described that relies on the assumption of multiple control by socially-mediated reinforcers and additional consideration as to whether the HD-SIB is tic-like, avoidant-type, or both. Several case studies will provide support for the utility of this alternative framework. |
| Instruction Level: Basic |
Learning Objectives: 1. The attendee will be able to describe the reasons why the concept of automatic reinforcement should probably be abandoned when assessing and treating HD-SIB.
2. The attendee will be able an alternative set of assumptions for assessing HD-SIB that allows for effective skill-based treatment.
3. N/A |
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| GREGORY P. HANLEY (FTF Behavioral Consulting) |
 Dr. Hanley has been applying the principles of learning to improve socially important behaviors of children and adults with and without disabilities for over 30 years. He worked and trained at the Kennedy Krieger Institute, was degreed at the University of Florida, was tenured at the University of Kansas, and directed the Behavior Analysis Doctoral Program and Life Skills Clinic at Western New England University. Dr. Hanley has published over 100 book chapters and articles in peer-reviewed journals in areas such as the assessment and prevention of problem behavior, teaching tactics for young children, and evidence-based values. Dr. Hanley is a Fellow of the American Psychological Association (Div. 25), past Associate Editor of The Behavior Analyst, and past Editor of the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis and of Behavior Analysis in Practice. He currently serves as a Research Professor at Western New England University and as CEO of FTF Behavioral, an international training and consulting group based in Worcester, Massachusetts. |
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