Describes a study examining whether a graduate level human relations training course offered at the Pulsaki County School System (Virginia) influenced teachers' verbal classroom interaction and whether such behavior changes could lead to a change in students' self-concept. The course was found to affect both teachers and students positively. (MLH)

Identifies common discipline problems and possible behavioral management strategies to solve them. Suggests using the Daily Progress Report as a tool to incorporate proven counseling techniques into an easily managed, individualized, effective program for responding to disruptive adolescent students. (ABB)

Two studies involving stereotypic hand gazing revealed that: (1) a dramatically increased therapy program substantially reduced a 35.4 month-old boy's hand gazing and augmented his toy manipulation skills; and (2) both glasses and toys effectively reduced hand gazing by two visually impaired 30.3 and 17.9 month-old children. (Author/CB)

Despite general trends for violence in marriage to escalate in frequency and intensity, there are some couples who, through their own efforts, stop being violent. Describes three such couples, with particular attention given to spouses' reports on the cessation of their violence. Discusses implications of these couples' experiences for the…

Of 673 special education teachers responding to the survey, over 55 percent reported that behavior modification was not their major system of classroom management. Responses are broken down by categorical title of classroom for experiences with positive reinforcement, time out, negative reinforcement, contingency contracting, response cost,…

Provides two-year follow-up data for a comparison between a complete behavioral marital therapy treatment package and two of its major components, behavior exchange and communication/problem-solving training for 34 couples. Statistically significant differences between the three treatments were not in evidence on any of the measures of marital…

Potential hazards and dangers of using the token economy approach to behavior change with head injured individuals are identified and it is suggested that the injured person's active awareness of reinforcement contingencies may sometimes be deleterious. (DB)

A case study is presented of a three-year-old girl who exhibited aggression towards other children when playing. A behavior management program involving praise and rewards for good behavior and negative consequences for misbehavior was successful in reducing the behavior problem. Cooperative behavior was maintained even when tangible rewards were…

Compared the effectiveness of a home-based behavioral intervention (relaxation and thermal biofeedback training) with an abortive pharmacological intervention (with compliance training) for treating recurrent migraine and migraine/tension headaches. Both interventions yielded reductions in headache activity, psychosomatic symptoms, and daily life…

Assigned 40 multiple sclerosis (MS) patients to stress inoculation training (SIT), which included cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy and progressive deep-muscle relaxation training adapted for MS patients, or current available care (CAC), which provided the usual clinic services. The SIT group was significantly less depressed, anxious and…

Describes psychological techniques, such as distraction and hypnotic imaginative involvement techniques, which have been found effective among chronically ill children and their parents in reducing anxiety and distress, and increasing the ability to cope with taxing medical procedures. Cases from research conducted in Vancouver, British Columbia…

Reviews programs to prevent delinquent behavior in school, behavioral analysis of absenteeism and truancy control, behavioral contracting in schools, parent training for changing behavior in school, vandalism reduction, behavioral school consultation, and Skill Streaming in schools. (Author/LHW)

The effectiveness of a quick-transfer language training method combined with incidental teaching on snack requests was examined with two severely mentally retarded primary grade children. Trained requesting behavior transferred to incidental opportunities and was maintained at 1-month followup. (DB)

The paper discusses efforts to reduce maladaptive behaviors in retarded persons including seven desirable characteristics of behavioral change agents, programmatic factors contributing to failure (such as a reactive rather than active intervention model), appropriate use of reinforcement, reasons clients misbehave, and research based suggestions…

Gentle Teaching, a treatment philosophy for reducing maladaptive behaviors of mentally retarded people, employs methods to reduce or eliminate problem behaviors without using punishment. Analysis indicates a lack of evaluation data for Gentle Treatment and suggests the Least Intrusive Treatment model should not be abandoned. (Author/CB)