Time-out technique

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The time-out technique is a behavior therapy method for children and adolescents. The procedure is based on operant conditioning . If children and adolescents show undesirable behavior , they are isolated from as many stimuli as possible for up to 15 minutes. The point is to withdraw any reinforcement stimuli of incorrect behavior through social and communicative exclusion . Amplifier stimuli are stimuli that promote undesirable behavior, for example eye contact, smile at the behavior, an overstimulated environment (especially in the case of autistic people, etc.).

The conspicuous person is taken out of the respective environment, and all (positive or negative) social and communicative contact is suddenly prevented. The person to be cared for should be placed in a low-stimulus environment without having access to other amplifiers or communication partners.

This “time out” should not be viewed as a lock-up. Rather, it is about giving the person to be cared for the opportunity to find themselves again and to reflect and analyze their behavior.

The time-out technique is mainly used for disruptions of social behavior , oppositional defiant behavior and attention deficit / hyperactivity disorders .

Basically, it should be noted that the method may not be used with people who are depressed, those at risk of suicide or who tend to self-harming behavior and mental illnesses (e.g. borderline syndrome). When using the method, it is important to pay attention to the non-frightening framework conditions. In some youth welfare and psychiatric care facilities, there are special time-out rooms that are set up in accordance with the requirements for low-irritation and are particularly suitable for the use of the time-out procedure.

The method was also used by educators who are in public, for example by qualified pedagogue Katharina Saalfrank (in The Super Nanny ), who she does not use as a "time-out method" in her work on the TV show, but as "silent stairs", "quiet chair" or similar. However, the format-bound method was only used for a short time. Katharina Saalfrank has now clearly distanced herself from the so-called Triple-P program, which originally formed the basis of the broadcast adapted from England and in which the time-out technique is also used.

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  • Curative and special education . Dr. Bernitzke, 1st edition, Bildungsverlag EINS - Stam ISBN 3-8237-1542-9