ELIMINATION OF STEALING BY SELF-REINFORCEMENT OF ALTERNATIVE BEHAVIOR AND FAMILY CONTRACTING (FROM PROGRESS IN BEHAVIOR THERAPY WITH DELINQUENTS, 1979, BY JEROME S STUMPHAUSER - SEE NCJ-57369)

• NCJ Number: 57376
• Author(s): J S STUMPHAUZER
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 7 pages
• Corporate Author: Charles C. Thomas
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: REPRINTED FROM JOURNAL OF BEHAVIOR THERAPY AND EXPERIMENTAL PSYCHIATRY, V 7 (1976), P 265-268

Annotation

THIS CASE STUDY DESCRIBES THE SUCCESSFUL TREATMENT OF A 12-YEAR-OLD GIRL WHO HAD STOLEN SMALL OBJECTS OR MONEY ALMOST DAILY FOR A PERIOD OF 5 YEARS. SIMILAR THERAPY IS RECOMMENDED FOR ALL JUVENILES WHO STEAL.

Abstract

OTHER THAN THE STEALING, THE GIRL HAD NO BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS AND WAS A GOOD STUDENT. THE REINFORCERS LISTED BY THE PATIENT AS MOST DESIRABLE INCLUDED ATTENTION, PRAISE, SWEETS, AND SPECIAL ACTIVITIES, ALL OF WHICH SHE ATTAINED THROUGH STEALING. THE PATIENT WAS SEEN FOR 15 TREATMENT SESSIONS (A PERIOD OF 5 MONTHS) INVOLVING BOTH INDIVIDUAL THERAPY AND FAMILY COUNSELING. THE VARIOUS SELF-REINFORCEMENT TECHNIQUES, AND A COMBINATION OF SELF-CONTROL MECHANISMS AND FAMILY CONTRACTING RESULTED IN A DROP OF STEALING INCIDENTS. THE FAMILY WAS ENCOURAGED TO FOCUS ATTENTION AWAY FROM STEALING BEHAVIORS AND TO CONCENTRATE ON NONSTEALING BEHAVIORS. GRADUALLY, THE GIRL WAS ABLE TO GAIN GREATER INDEPENDENCE AND ACQUIRE NEW BEHAVIOR PATTERNS. HER MOTHER RETURNED TO HER JOB WHICH SHE HAD DISCONTINUED TO MONITOR HER DAUGHTER. AT 18-MONTH FOLLOW-UP, THE GIRL STILL DID NOT STEAL. SIMILAR BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION TECHNIQUES ARE RECOMMENDED FOR OTHER JUVENILES WHO STEAL. JUVENILE THEFT IS A MAJOR PROBLEM AND LITTLE ATTENTION HAS BEEN GIVEN TO IT. REFERENCES ARE APPENDED. (GLR)