Behavioural analysis of self-aggressive behavior among people with developmental disorders

The aim of the article is to present the causes of self-destructive behavior among intellectually disabled patients according to behavioral theory. We will provide 5 hypotheses on the occurrence of self-injurious behavior: 1) self-aggression as learnt behavior under the control of positive reinforcement, 2) self-aggression as acquired behavior resulting from avoiding an aversive stimulus (under the control of negative reinforcement), 3) self-aggression as a means of supplying oneself with stimuli (the self-stimulation hypothesis), 4) self-aggression resulting from improper
functioning of physiological processes (the organic hypothesis), 5) self-aggression resulting from several of the above-mentioned reasons.

Behavioural analysis of self-aggressive behavior among people with developmental disorders

The aim of the article is to present the causes of self-destructive behavior among intellectually disabled patients according to behavioral theory. We will provide 5 hypotheses on the occurrence of self-injurious behavior: 1) self-aggression as learnt behavior under the control of positive reinforcement, 2) self-aggression as acquired behavior resulting from avoiding an aversive stimulus (under the control of negative reinforcement), 3) self-aggression as a means of supplying oneself with stimuli (the self-stimulation hypothesis), 4) self-aggression resulting from improper
functioning of physiological processes (the organic hypothesis), 5) self-aggression resulting from several of the above-mentioned reasons.