Eliminating Stealing: Use of Stimulus Control with an Elementary Student

Stealing by a first-grade boy enrolled in special education was eliminated through stimulus control training. The subject's possessions were marked with green circles, and during experimental conditions he was reinforced with praise and tokens for having only marked items. Possession of unmarked items was contingently punished by a verbal reprimand and a point fine. Stealing was reduced to .32 stolen items per day from an average baseline rate of 6.0 stolen items per day. The token system was systematically eliminated and stealing averaged .09 per day during 31 days of follow-up.