Reducing problem behaviors in the severely and profoundly retarded

A 21-week pilot project was conducted in a large state institution for the mentally retarded applying behavior modification principles for reducing disruptive and hostile behavior. Fourteen males served as experimental subjects. They were housed on a “closed” ward and exhibited a high frequency rate of physical and verbal aggression as well as some psychotic-like behavior. The pilot project demonstrated that brief time-out periods combined with systematic positive reinforcement for acceptable behaviors resulted in the eliminationof both extremely aggressive and psychotic-like behaviors.