This study of an adolescent with mental retardation and autism found that pica of cigarette butts was maintained in a condition with no social consequences when cigarettes contained nicotine but not when cigarettes contained herbs without nicotine. A procedure based on stimulus control, which reduced cigarette consumption to zero, is described.…

Describes the S.T.O.P. Sign Technique, a method developed to assist individuals meet the challenge of successfully making or choosing a more appropriate behavioral response. Proposes that the technique has a rather broad application in working with individuals, couples, or families. (GCP)

Identifies and analyzes several variables important in predicting the likelihood of abstinence among substance abuse clients. Data was collected from 1,350 clients treated for alcohol or drug abuse in residential, halfway house, or outpatient facilities. Analyzing 22 variables as possible treatment outcome predictors, results found one…

Paper examines impact of a six-month social norms marketing intervention designed to reduce alcohol use among students attending a small, private university. Results indicate that little change in student alcohol use or perception of drinking norms occurred following the intervention. Gender effect was noted in the analysis with female students…

Describes the benefits of making school building more energy efficient. Provides examples of physical retrofits and behavioral changes to save energy costs. Describes four-step process to create an energy efficiency plan. Includes resources and information such as U.S. Department of Energy's Energy STAR program (www.energystar.gov). (PKP)

Legal mandate and limited resources provide an impetus to increase the utility of functional assessment. The goal of this study was to develop a brief assessment that could be conducted in the natural setting to identify naturally occurring, high-frequency subsequent events that may serve as maintaining consequences for disruptive behavior using…

Presents systematic analysis of the major treatment approaches used for selective mutism. Based on nonparametric statistical tests of effect sizes, major findings include the following: treatment of selective mutism is more effective than no treatment; behaviorally oriented treatment approaches are more effective than no treatment; and no…

Illuminates a collaborative effort between the author and Dr. Arnold A. Lazarus, an internationally known presenter, author, and therapist. Many consider Lazarus to be a pioneer of behavior therapy and brief psychotherapy. Presents details about his unique perspective regarding therapy with couples and families. Provides case examples that…

The authors describe a process for measuring behaviors associated with 16 character values. Using the process described in the article, school officials and counselors can determine character values to target and can determine from scores generated by the instrument if their efforts have resulted in improved behaviors associated with the targeted…

Presents discussion of basic components and characteristics of contingency contracts. Includes case study in which contingency contracting procedures were integrated within a behavioral consultation model used by a school psychologist consulting with a classroom teacher to modify personal hygiene of 12-year-old male. (Author/ABL)

In response to Horner and others (EC 232 976), this paper notes earlier recommendation of procedural safeguards to protect client rights and encouragement of positive procedures to increase adaptive skills but questions whether a positive but slow intervention is more ethically valid than more quickly effective "aversive" interventions…

Studied effectiveness of relapse prevention program in 744 smokers trained to use over 40 behavioral and cognitive smoking cessation techniques. At 1-week follow-up session, abstainers were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 follow-up conditions: skills training, discussion, and no treatment. Survival analysis indicated higher abstinence rates for the…

Autistic leading in four autistic children, aged three-five, was treated by strengthening pointing as an alternative form of request. Following intervention, pointing gradually replaced leading, and stimulus generalization was observed. Results indicate that functional equivalence and response efficiency can be procedurally combined to…

Subjected adolescents on 16-bed token economy ward of state hospital to 4 interventions in 7-phase experiment to reduce number of fines they received each day. No significant differences in average fines per day, number of residents meeting criteria, or mean number of zero-fine days per week were found across phases. (Author/NB)

This introduction to several articles on punishment in treating persons with mental retardation notes the ethical dilemmas involved and offers the editor's view that research on the side effects and relative efficacy of various treatments for reducing self-injurious behaviors should continue, and clinical practice should be guided by research…