Contingent Exercise

Description of the Strategy

Contingent exercise is a positive punishment procedure sometimes used to decrease problem behaviors. In positive punishment, aversive events or activities are “added” or applied contingent on the occurrence of a behavior. Aversive activities are defined as low probability behaviors that a person typically would not choose to engage in. By definition, positive punishment procedures reduce the future probability of a behavior by requiring an individual to engage in low probability behavior (aversive activity) contingent on the occurrence of a high probability behavior (problem behavior). Since many individuals attempt to avoid or escape contingent exercise, the change agent must often use another positive punishment procedure, guided compliance, to compel the person to complete the aversive activity. Other positive punishment procedures include overcorrection, physical restraint, and physical discipline.

In contingent exercise, the client is required to engage in some form of physical exercise immediately contingent on the display of problem behavior. Several aspects of implementing the procedure are critical. First, the client must be capable of carrying out the physical activity without harm. Second, the exercise should be sufficiently effortful and/or tedious (e.g., push ups, sit ups, running laps). Where an attempt is made to make the “punishment fit the crime,” a child who frequently kicks may be required to run, or a child who hits or slaps might be required to engage in vigorous arm exercises. Contingent exercise can also be applied more arbitrarily.

Research Basis

Research has shown that physical exercise in the form of jogging or vigorous athletic activity has beneficial effects on the classroom behaviors of behaviorally disordered children. In a study by Luce and colleagues, contingent exercise was utilized with two emotionally disturbed children displaying autistic and aggressive behaviors. Contingent exercise resulted in a rapid decrease in aggressive behaviors. They concluded that contingent exercise may be utilized as an alternative procedure by therapists confronted with seriously disruptive behaviors. Other studies have shown that contingent exercise may be effective in reducing problem behaviors among children with developmental delay, autism, and hyperactivity. Notwithstanding studies showing effectiveness, the use of contingent exercise in general clinical and nonclinical populations has not been extensively researched.

Complications

As with all forms of intervention, contingent exercise could potentially be misused or be harmful. To minimize potential risks, a functional assessment of factors contributing to problem behavior might first be conducted. These efforts could result in an intervention that eliminates the need for the problem behavior or treatment that promotes the display of behavior incompatible with the problem behavior. Second, milder forms of punishment (e.g., response cost or time-out) should be attempted prior to the introduction of contingent exercise. If reinforcement-based efforts fail and intervention is still deemed necessary, helpers should be careful to avoid exercises that are too strenuous. Medical evaluations may also be required prior to implementing a program. Thus, contingent exercise should be implemented with the caveats and restrictions as other aversive consequences. Finally, contingent exercise procedures must be carefully explained to adults responsible for the care of the child and may require extensive training of parents, direct care staff, and teachers. In many cases, the use of contingent exercise may be explicitly prohibited by regulatory agencies. In other cases, parents or administrators may be philosophically opposed to its implementation, thus limiting its applicability. Nevertheless, with appropriate safeguards, contingent exercise could merit wider use and study. On a positive note, one could argue that in comparison to other forms of punishment (e.g., physical discipline, restraint), contingent exercise promotes healthy activity, may reduce conflict, and poses less risk of humiliation and injury to the child.

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