Historically, researchers have never quite been able to agree as to the role of emotions, if any, when behavior is selected by its consequences. A brief review of findings from several fields suggests that in contingency-shaped behavior, motivating events, often unconscious, seem needed for reinforcement to select behavior. In rule-governed…

This manual sets forth in detail the therapist behaviors necessary for effective application of this relaxation training technique. The materials presented are designed to provide therapists in many disciplines with the skills they need to train their clients in relaxation. A background to relaxation training is presented, and the basic procedures…

Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) and suicide attempts (SAs) are especially prevalent in borderline personality disorder. One proposed mechanism for the maintenance of NSSI and SAs is escape conditioning, whereby immediate reductions in aversive emotional states negatively reinforce the behaviors. Psychophysiological and subjective indicators of…

Studied the relationship between the tendency to hold certain irrational beliefs and the likelihood of becoming emotionally aroused in various types of situations. (Author)

Examines the character traits of the hysterical personality and raises the question: Are these traits distinguishable from so-called normal "feminine" traits, and if not, how can this be understood? Conclusion is that there is not a clear distinction between "hysterical" traits and those traits often considered "feminine." (Author)

Hypotheses that efficacy of systematic desensitization could be attributed to anxlety reduction as a result of relaxation training, to extinction of nonreinforced fear responses, or to operation of placebo factors were tested as alternatives to counterconditioning hypothesis. Test anxiety reduction was found only for subjects given relaxation…

The present study evaluated sex differences in observational fear conditioning using modeled ''mock'' panic attacks as an unconditioned stimulus (UCS). Fifty-nine carefully prescreened healthy undergraduate participants (30 women) underwent 3 consecutive differential conditioning phases: habituation, acquisition, and extinction. It was expected…

In a case of claustrophobia and in another with fears of flying, Japanese defense activities of the Karate type proved to be effective counter conditioners of anxiety. They were used in the former case in vivo and in the later case both in imagination and in vivo. (Author)

The subject-controlled graduated exposure of a snake with feedback of exposure times resulted in significantly less avoidance behaviors for snake-phobic subjects than for control snake-phobic subjects who did not receive therapy. (Author)

The author conceives of the human emotional system as being composed of three functions of motivational stimuli: (a) the attitudinal or emotional, (b) the reinforcing, and (c) the discriminative controlling function which the stimuli acquire. He defines and describes each of these functions and their effect on integrated learning principles. He…

Results were consistent with an increased emotionality or frustration interpretation. (Author)

Author suggests that digital Communication", which relies on arbitrary coding elements, like the phones of speech," overshadows the importance of the analogic symbolism people use more extensively than realized. Non-verbal messages can be more convincing than verbal and can be used to predict patterns of future behavior. (Author/PD)

Discusses the "chutzpah factor", the ability to transcend fear and enter into the unknown, in altered states of consciousness, especially in what are known as "adept" individuals. Examines the powerful effect a person's belief system has upon what he or she is able to do and endure. (Editor/RK)