Assessment and treatment of inappropriate sexualized behavior for individuals with autism spectrum disorder

Document Type

Thesis

College

College of Arts and Sciences

Department

Psychology

Degree

M.S. Applied Behavior Analysis

Date Completed

2021

First Committee Member

Ahearn, William

Second Committee Member

Henley, Amy

Third Committee Member

Bourret, Jason

Abstract

"Many individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) engage in sexualized behavior that is similar to that of their typically developing peers. As a result of deficits in social learning and communication and a lack of sex education, individuals with ASD may engage in inappropriate sexualized behavior (ISB), such as public masturbation, inappropriate romantic gestures, or exhibitionism. Individuals with disabilities are often at a higher risk for sexual abuse than individuals without disabilities. To lower the risk of sexual abuse, it is important that individuals with ASD have access to comprehensive sex education, which often begins with reducing public masturbation. In a study by Cividini-Motta et al. (2020), response interruption (RI) and response interruption and redirection (RIRD) were found to be equally effective in reducing levels of public masturbation (PM) in individuals with ASDs. These results were replicated and extended in Kishbaugh and Ahearn (unpublished master’s thesis). Additionally, Kishbaugh and Ahearn included a component which evaluated participant preference for treatment. The purpose of the current study was to directly replicate the work of Kishbaugh and Ahearn to evaluate the efficacy of RI and RIRD on ISB and assess participant preference for treatment."

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