Elimination of soiling behavior in an elementary school child through the application of aversive techniques

A case study illustrating the application of aversive techniques in a school setting was presented. Soiling behavior, which had occured as often as three times per day before aversive procedures were initiated, was eliminated in this child with no reoccurence in a six month follow-up. This report lends additional confirmation to the feasibility of employing aversive conditioning or punishment in modifying or eliminating socially unacceptable behavior. Also, it is another example in which amelioration of symptomology appropriately seemed to precede a thorough investigation of etiological factors.