Response to article in previous issue by Max Bruck (April 1968). Argues that behavioral approach has been empirically demonstrated to be effective in altering problem behavior, and offers advantages over more traditional approaches. Proposes that behavioral psychology can deal with all important aspects of complex human behavior. (Author)

A survey was conducted of 406 elementary, middle, and secondary school teachers to determine their understanding, acceptance, and use of the principle of operant conditioning. The treatment of data was by percent and chi square analysis primarily according to sex, experience, degree, and position. Subjects reported that a) they believed that the…

Planning, funding and operating anti-poverty programs require skilled community organizers. Training organizers deals with problems of how to motivate others and what tactics should be used when difficulty is encountered. Two approaches to these problems determined by images of 20th Century Man have been employed: (1) rational economic man who…

The purpose of this study is to analyze the relationship between the theories of B.F. Skinner and Carl R. Rogers. In sections 2 and 3, the author discusses the Skinnerian and Rogerian theories by selecting and explicating key elements and delineating the general, comprehensive, theoretical position of each. Sections 4 and 5 present each man's…

Implications of the behaviorist and cognitive theories in language instruction are discussed in this article. Some contributions of Skinner, Politzer, Valette, Morton, Lane, and Mueller and Niedzielski clarify the behaviorists' view of language as a myriad of conditioned responses. In turn, the cognitive viewpoint, seen as the acquisiton and…

This paper was presented at the 1970 International Joint Conference sponsored by the American Geographical Society and the American Division of the World Academy of Art and Science held in New York City. The author postulates that education can be accountable to a changing world scene by offering students a relevant education so they may…

A survey of 406 elementary, middle and secondary school teachers attending the 1973 summer session at Northern Illinois University was conducted to determine their familiarity with and exposure to behavioral objectives, their involvement in writing and using behavioral objectives, and their opinion of the effect of behavioral objectives on student…

This study addressed three questions: Is there a reinforcing effect of positive covert imagery? Is the Reinforcement Survey Schedule a more effective aid to selection of positive imagery than individual selection of standardized assignment? Do multiple images produce greater conditioning than does a single image? Forty-six subjects were randomly…

An investigation of the efficacy of covert negative reinforcement (Ascher and Cautela, 1972) was replicated. Thirty Ss were randomly assigned to one of three groups. Ss in the experimental group were trained to imagine a noxious scene, then to shift to the image of a ringing bell. During the test phase, the word "bell" was used to reinforce over-…

Applied theories in the development of self-instructional, audio-video courses at Florida Atlantic University are explored in this article. Development of intralanguage and extralanguage associations of "verbal context" is proposed as a means by which the student might achieve a desired verbal-operant repertoire through self-instruction. The…

Degree of transfer and fear change associated with four levels of desensitization, pseudodesensitization, and no treatment were assessed in snakephobic students. Desensitization subjects reported significantly less anxiety than no-treatment controls when repeating their highest pretreatment responses, but were no different from either control…

This paper provides the teacher with a brief introduction to the principles of behavior modification. Major areas of concern deal with the history of behavior modification, implications for the concept of mental health, the teacher's role, the difference between behavior modification and other forms of control, reinforcement, the role of…

This paper presents a review of relevant literature on treatment approaches for the modification of smoking behavior, followed by an outline of an approach developed by the author to decrease his own rate of cigarette smoking. Studies are reviewed which have used various treatment methods: use of electric shock, satiation and/or use of cigarette…

This book is a teacher's guide for dealing with and modifying childrens' behavior. Chapter one discusses behavior and how it is strengthened, weakened, or shaped by consequences of the behavior (rewarding, ignoring, punishing). Chapters two and three present techniques which can be used to strengthen desirable behaviors and weaken undesirable…