O. Ivar Lovaas, Ph.D. | |
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Born | Ole Ivar Lovaas Norway |
Nationality | Norwegian |
Known for | Lovaas technique, father of applied behavior analysis |
Website http://www.lovaas.com/ |
O. (Ole) Ivar Lovaas, Ph.D. is a clinical psychologist considered one of the fathers of applied behavior analysis therapy for autism through his development of the Lovaas technique and the first to provide evidence that the behavior of autistic children can be modified through teaching.[1][2]
Though a critic thought his original claims of effectiveness were overstated,[3] findings of independent peer reviewed studies do show benefits associated with the Lovaas method, [4] Systematic reviews have also not found definitive evidence to support claims that the Lovaas method is superior to other active interventions.[5] </ref> In his original studies in the late 1950's aversives such as electric shock successfully treated approximately 50% of individuals engaging in instances of extreme self-injury whose life expectancy was reduced by secondary infection. During the time of these studies it was discovered that the professionals in these institutional settings inadvertently reinforced self-injury with attention. Subsequent studies relied on extinction, in these cases, giving attention when not engaging in self-injury.
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