[Page 3333]Stimulus control is defined as a change in behavior simply because of the presence of a particular stimulus. Specifically, when the presence of one stimulus increases the frequency, intensity, or duration of a behavioral response, then that response is said to have come under stimulus control. The term stimulus is defined as any event or situation, and control implies the ability to reasonably predict behavior. Generally speaking, in clinical practice, the goal of patients and/or their guardians is to be able to change or otherwise control behavior. Therefore, an intervention that enables them to do so, such as stimulus control, has important clinical implications.

The behavior of living organisms is influenced by stimuli that facilitate both operant conditioning of overt (observable) behavior and classical conditioning ...