Behavioral studies have shown that youths in various settings can function effectively as behavior change agents. The study used five 15- to 18- year-old male youths in a closed institutional setting as behavior change agents for five male youth counselors. Staff increased their frequency of positive verbal comments. (Author)

Effects of systematic desensitization and anxiety management training in reducing test anxiety and generalizing to other anxieties were compared. Both desensitization and anxiety management training produced significant reduction of text anxiety, but by follow-up, anxiety management training produced significantly more test-anxiety reduction on…

Anxious students were randomly assigned to a wait-list control group; to three groups aided by experienced behavior therapists; or to three groups led by paraprofessionals. Results show paraprofessionals can achieve outcome and maintenance effects equivalent to more rigorously trained professionals. Paraprofessionals can conduct desensitization in…

Subjects monitored either a target behavior or a competing response, namely, its nonoccurrence. Predicted interaction between style of monitoring and deficit or excess status of target behavior did not occur. Monitoring target behavior was the most effective tactic, producing lowest drop-out rate and greatest maintenance of self-monitoring.…

Demonstrated the effect of a contingency contracting treatment package for treating a distressed couple. A multi-method assessment package was used. The treatment package was responsible for producing behavior change and changes in levels of satisfaction. Multi-assessments provided the therapist with concrete data on a couple's progress in…

Efforts were made to facilitate career development of former drug abusers. Treatment consisted of a modified form of Daane's vocational exploration group (VEG). Subjects had significantly greater maturity of career attitudes and competencies than controls and greater clarity of career plans. Results indicate the VEG enhanced career-development…

Evaluated therapeutic effectiveness of setting goals in behavioral terms while monitoring subject's progress in attaining these goals. Greater beneficial changes in patient attainment of goals were effected using a structured patient-therapist collaboration on weekly goals. Results indicate the goal attainment model with periodic monitoring is…

Evaluated the utility and validity of self-efficacy theory and a theoretical model of relapse with (N=78) cigarette smokers. Results found efficacy state was significantly enhanced as the result of both treatment programs. (Author/RC)

College students (N=253) rated the effects they expected from drinking alcohol along various dimensions. Results showed that subjects expected moderate drinking to result in relatively greater stimulation/perceived dominance and pleasurable disinhibition, whereas for heavy drinking they expected a greater degree of behavioral impairment. (Author)

A state-of-the-art review of childhood hyperactivity, conclusions from empirical findings, and implications for clinical work are presented. Diagnosis and etiology of hyperactivity are explored with emphasis on the multivariate aspects of the disorder and the difficulty of specifying behavior which is by definition unpredictable. (PHR)

Recent evidence indicates that marijuana is more harmful than had previously been suspected. A review of research in the following areas is presented: tolerance and persistence, reproductive system, respiratory system, immune system, central nervous system, genetic and chromosomal effects, and behavioral effects. (Author)

The author reviews recent literature dealing with teaching autistic children acceptable behaviors. Using E. Ornitz and E. Ritvo's description of autism, teaching procedures to overcome weaknesses in perceptual difficulties, bizarre movement, and problems in relating are discussed. (CL)

Suggests that (1) parents and peers influence adolescents through the expression of normative standards or the modeling of behaviors; (2) adolescents respond to such pressure directly or by internalizing norms or preferences for conduct; and (3) pressures, norms, and preferences have different effects on adolescent behavior, depending on the topic…

The author reviews some of the literature on the causes, extent, and prevention of violence and vandalism in the schools. Two programs designed to incorporate preventive mental health into the schools--Model Me, and Magic Circle--are discussed. (KC)

Four experimental Ss (9 to 14 years) were taught through self-instruction to focus attention and cope with math and printing tasks, then were systematically and sequentially exposed to photo slides of distracting situations, to audio distractors, and to in vivo distractors. Results suggested that the training package produced changes in self…