Adverse Effects of Differentia] Parental Attention

Differential social attention from adults is used frequently as a technique for the modification of child behavior. This procedure entails the contingent and frequent application of adult's attention following desired child behaviors and the removal of attention following undesired child behaviors. While the effectiveness of differential attention procedures in modifying child behaviors cannot always be assured, this procedure has a practical advantage as an initial component of a parent-mediated intervention program. Two clinical parent training projects were independently conceived and conducted, one at the University of Kansas and one at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. Parents in both projects were trained to use differential attention procedures with their young deviant children. Contrary to expectations, four of the six children were adversely affected by the differential attention procedures.