The relative efficacy of systematic desensitization and assertive skill training in increasing assertive responses, reducing anxiety related to being assertive, and increasing response satisfaction, was compared to two control conditions--a placebo-control (discussion) and an assessment-control. Also investigated was the effect of the subjects'…

A mini-course was devised to aid physical education majors in modifying personal problem behaviors that could directly or indirectly have an impact on their teacher behavior. Relevant readings on the topics of behavior control and self-modification were provided. The subjects designed self-modification projects that involved the self-application…

Youths who approved of adventurous, youth-oriented activities were likely to be more involved in delinquent behavior than those who did not, but no relationship was found between approval of more serious offenses and extent of delinquent involvement. Based on questionnaire responses from institutionalized girls in two juvenile reformatories,…

This book contains a widely used method for structuring learning in a positive environment. The material is presented in a workshop format. Each unit should be read and worked on for one week; the teachers should then meet to exchange ideas. Unit 1 discusses behavior, and informs the reader that if he/she wants to influence a change in behavior,…

Seven schools in which pupil achievement was high were matched with seven schools in which pupil achievement was low. Nine teachers were selected for observation in each school; teachers filled out questionnaires, and principals were interviewed. Significant differences in favor of schools with high pupil achievement were found in teacher…

The present study investigated how type of interaction between groups affects intergroup hostility and how this intergroup hostility may be reduced. In the first phase of the study groups were led to believe that they were either competing, cooperating, or having no interaction with a second group. The results indicated that competition led to the…

It was hypothesized that if perceived reality is an important factor in determining children's reactions to television, radical differences in the structure of perceived reality should lead to radical differences in its functioning as well. Questionnaires were answered by 153 children from first, third, and sixth grades in a suburban Wisconsin…

This paper investigated whether children can learn to cooperate under minimal social conditions. The research also compares the effectiveness of verbal instructions and a training task for teaching subjects the "win-stay/lose-change" rule. This rule has been used to explain the development of cooperation in the minimal social situation. Subjects…

Three variables, derived from Blau's (1955) analysis of consultation networks among federal agents and Homans' (1961) social exchange analysis, were manipulated to observe their effects on help seeking. Subjects were presented with a hypothetical situation where help was needed. Subjects indicated that they would be more likely to seek help from a…

Several misconceptions regarding the status of human communication systems relative to the systems of other animals are discussed in this paper. Arguments are offered supporting the expansion of the communication discipline to include the study of the communication systems of other species. The "communicative continuity" view which ranks…

Empathy has been hypothesized as a mediator facilitating prosocial behaviors such as altruism. Definitions and measures of empathy disagree as to the extent to which the observer's response is affective and the necessity for the observer to understand the other's point of view. A conceptualization of empathy which includes these considerations has…

The purpose of this essay is to propose a different explanation of collective behavior and also to hypothesize how communication functions in this process. Using the experimental finding known as the "risky shift," this essay (1) summarizes the history of the risky shift, (2) presents two different theories which have been proposed to…

This paper reports a study of selected examples of verbal behavior patterns in primary grade classrooms during science activities. The subjects were 32 elementary teachers within five mid-Michigan public school districts. A control group of 16 teachers taught science in the conventional manner. The experimental group received an in-depth study of…

This paper reports results of the first year of a 2-year comparative study of four curricula used for disadvantaged preschool children: Bereiter-Engelmann, DARCEE, Montessori, and Traditional (the official Head Start program). Details of the study design and procedures are contained in the abbreviated Annual Progress Report for 1968-1969 (PS 003…

This study attempted to identify correlates of successful teaching in the presentation behavior of pre-intern teachers. The sample was drawn from 54 Stanford students who each taught one of six preset social studies or English lessons to 25 eighth and ninth graders. Each pupil took a multiple-choice comprehension test which was used to compute a…