Abstract
A new treatment method for autism was tested on two matched samples of 15 autistic children each. Single rage-reduction sessions were compared with comparable periods of therapist contact, resulting in significant positive changes in behaviors, such as approach to therapist or eye contact, for the rage-reduction group only.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bettelheim B:The Empty Fortress: Infantile Autism and the Birth of the Self. New York, Macmillan, 1967.
Des Lauriers AM:The Experience of Reality in Childhood Schizophrenia. New York, International Universities Press, 1962.
Ferster CB: Positive reinforcement and behavioral deficits of autistic children.Child Dev 32:437–56, 1961.
Kanner L: Autistic disturbance of affective contact.Nervous Child 2:217–50, 1943.
Lovaas OI, Beberich JP, Perloff BF, et al: Acquisition of imitative speech by schizophrenic children.Science 151:705–7, 1966.
Lovaas OI, Schaeffer B, Simmons JQ: Building social behavior in autistic children by use of electric shock.J Exper Res Personal 1:99–109, 1965.
Rimland B:Infantile Autism. New York, Appleton-Century-Crofts, 1964.
Schopler E: The development of body image and symbol formation through bodily contact with an autistic child.J Child Psychol Psychiat 3:191–202, 1962.
Zaslow RW, Breger L: A theory and treatment of autism. In L Breger (Ed),Clinical-Cognitive Psychology: Models and Integrations. Englewood Cliffs, NJ, Prentice-Hall, 1969.
Zaslow RW: Resistances in cognitive processes: Resolving some paradoxes on Pavlov and Freud. Paper presented at the American Psychological Association meeting in Miami, Florida, September 1970.
Williams CD: The elimination of tantrum behavior by extinction procedures.J Abn Psychol 59:269, 1959.
Wolf M, Risley T, Mees H: Application of operant conditioning procedures to the behavior problems of an autistic child.Behav Res Ther 1:305–12, 1964.
Bucher B, Lovaas OI: Use of aversive stimulation in behavior modification. In MR Jones (Ed),Miami Symposium on the Prediction of Behavior, 1967: Aversive Stimulation. Coral Gables, Fla, University of Miami Press, 1968.
Saposnek DT: The elimination of self-destructive behavior in a profoundly retarded autistic child using the rage-reduction technique. Paper presented at the Second Annual Gatlinburg Conference on Research and Theory in Mental Retardation, Gatlinburg, Tennessee, 1969.
Friedman R: A “rage-reduction” diagnostic technique with young children.Child Psychiat Hum Dev 1:112–25, 1970.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
This study is based on a thesis submitted to San Jose State College, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the M.A. degree. The author is especially grateful to Dr. Robert Zaslow, who, as advisor of the thesis, gave much encouragement and support for this research.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Saposnek, D.T. An experimental study of rage-reduction treatment of autistic children. Child Psych Hum Dev 3, 50–62 (1972). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01435062
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01435062