Self-control procedures are discussed as a new tool of the counsellor for helping clients. Goal-setting by the client, and how he can effectively use the environment in achieving his goals, are considered both philosophically and technically. (Author)

The portion of the Personal and Social Development Program presented here is designed to help intermediate and secondary students with behaviors grouped into several categories: (1) self concept; (2) responsibility; (3) group consideration. (Author/CJ)

This paper addresses the issue of homosexuals who want to change their sexual orientation. It is noted that many ego-dystonic homosexuals who want to become heterosexual, despite encouragement from psychotherapists to accept their homosexuality, are turning to self-help groups in an effort to change their sexual orientation. Studies that have…

The effectiveness of a self help book on assertiveness training was assessed by comparing two bibliotherapy conditions with group therapy and a waiting list control condition. One group of bibliotherapy subjects read a popular paperback with no therapist contact, while the other group additionally participated in informal discussion sessions.…

Students (N=49) in an undergraduate educational psychology course designed and conducted behavioral self-modification projects. Correlation and regression analyses suggested weak but significant relationships between self-modification outcomes and a linear combination of dogmatism, sex, and mathematical aptitude variables. The effects of demand…

Illustrates use of self-control procedures to modify teacher instructional behavior. A teacher wanted to increase the frequency of approval statements and decrease the frequency of disapproval statements. She followed a plan that included a card self-recording system, cues, and overt rewards. (Author)

Evaluated two self-help behavior therapy books for stopping smoking against a minimal treatment program. Results indicated under self-administered conditions, the minimal treatment program was as effective as the behavior therapy books. On the self-report measures, therapist contact was associated with improved treatment outcome for the behavior…

While numerous approaches to inhibit smoking have appeared in the literature, self-management is one technique that allows the client to take a more active part in the treatment. To study the effectiveness of self-management in a single-subject design, an 18 year old female college student who smoked mostly on weekends was told to self-monitor her…

Self-help programs can be used to replace, complement, or supplement formal treatment, but their effectiveness has been underestimated. To test the effectiveness of bibliotherapy in the treatment of problem drinkers, six studies were conducted over 7 years (1975-1982) comparing different treatment approaches. The combined data showed that for…

The purpose of this manual is to provide clients of community mental health facilities with techniques and skills to bring about changes in their own behavior and that of others in their environment. The manual has been used for two years as a textbook for a program of self-control skills training offered in San Mateo County, California, community…

Self-help groups of elderly persons (N=42), who had been blind for several years, met by phone for short-term problem solving and discussion of coping methods. Results indicated task-centered assignments helped the majority meet their goal of decreasing feelings of hopelessness and increasing social activities outside of the home. (Author)

The hypotheses tested among college students (N=87) concerned about study habits were: (a) self-monitoring changes study behavior; (b) information feedback accounts for some of this change; and (c) this change can be enhanced by manipulating the quantity and quality of information feedback and self-administered consequences associated with…

Group assertion training has employed a variety of techniques including bibliotherapy, behavioral rehearsal, and didactic lecture presentations. Whether didactic information affects behavior, structure, and/or self-evaluation is unknown, and it is not clear whether behavioral practice enhances the effects of didactic training upon behavior,…

Unsupervised do-it-yourself therapy constitutes an exceptionally important issue that calls for more empirical and scientific investigation of the validity of publications in this field. Rational-emotive therapy (RET), one of the most popular forms of self-help treatment, has led to several generalizations. (1) Cognitive and cognitive-behavior…