Date of Award
8-1-2011
Degree Name
Master of Science
Department
Behavior Analysis and Therapy
First Advisor
Seibert, Ashley
Abstract
The purpose of the present study is to determine the effect of thought acceptance and mindfulness on increasing the self-control behavior of children with ADHD. Initially, the researcher will determine the length of time in which each participant can currently tolerate the delay period to consume a preferred food item. Once a stable baseline of wait time is obtained, participants will be asked to select between a small, immediate portion of a food item and a larger, delayed portion of the food item. Following this phase, Self-Control Training will begin. During the Self-Control Training, the researcher will present a large portion of a preferred food item and the participant will be instructed to accept his thoughts about want to eat the food and become mindful of his thoughts and body sensations that he is experiencing while waiting to consume their preferred food item. After completing five training sessions, the experimenter will conduct probes measuring the selection of the small immediate and larger delayed portion as well as the length of time in which each participant can wait to consume the food items. Data collected from these probes will be compared to baseline data in order to determine the effects of accepting thoughts and mindfulness for enhancing self-control behavior. It is expected that participant's ability to tolerate the delay to consume the food item will gradually increase as the researcher continues to implement the Self-Control Training.
Access
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