Effect of Time-Out from Positive Reinforcement on Aggressive Behavior in Young Children

Abstract

The effect of time-out from positive reinforcement on aggressive behavior was explored in 5-yr.-olds, 6 boys and 10 girls. Instrumental aggressive and nonaggressive doll-play were observed prior to and immediately following rime-out from CRF token reinforcement. The results indicated that, while time-out from positive reinforcement was not an effective antecedent of aggressive behavior for children in general, it did produce a notable increase in the over-all activity level of females. The fact that girls, and not boys, were aroused by the time-out procedure was discussed in terms of the relationship between activity-related cue properties of the doll-play apparatus and the normal activity of 5-yr.-old girls.