Abstract: | Examined whether certain environmental events could elicit self-injurious behavior (SIB) and whether the resulting SIB could be conditioned to an antecedently presented external stimulus. Exp I showed that SIB could be elicited in 4 socially isolated rhesus monkeys by the application of brief, mild, electric footshock. In Exp II, 3 socially isolated Ss were exposed to a procedure that paired a 10-sec tone with a 1-sec electric footshock. Three control Ss received presentations of the tone alone. Results show that Ss in the experimental group began to show SIB during the tone periods, thereby providing evidence of respondent conditioning. Data expand the scope of the learning model of SIB from primarily operant interpretations to respondent conditioning as well. (15 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved) |