Explores the relationship between a general theory of living systems and the conceptualization and practice of counseling. Emphasis is placed on the individual. After providing a rationale for adopting a systems perspective, specific system dimensions are discussed. The relationship of these dimensions to current counseling theories is developed.…

A study of how female college students' behavior was affected by their awareness, knowledge, and perception of the risk of toxic shock syndrome shows that about 21 percent of those interviewed bought different products after learning of the disease. Implications for health education are drawn. (Authors/PP)

Behavioral techniques along with a self-regulation methodology were used successfully to decrease encopretic behaviors in a 9-year-old male. Kanfer's self-regulatory model appears to be generalizable to any child with the cognitive ability to understand that he or she has a problem and to make decisions about treatment. (Author/PN)

Investigators studied whether a systematically designed recreation program stressing cooperation and interaction among mentally retarded adults would increase the duration and frequency of social contacts. While the program did increase the frequency of social interactions, effects did not carry over after it ended. (Author/PP)

Following training and experience as peer tutors in a behaviorally oriented reading program for junior high school students, formerly disruptive students decreased their disruptive behaviors and exhibited improved morale and increased academic progress. This article describes the program and provides suggestions for implementing a similar one.…

Research suggests that adults can help students become more responsible by teaching them new ways of thinking about self-control and new skills and strategies for self-control. (JM)

The use of reinforcement to reduce inappropriate behaviors of mentally retarded and emotionally disturbed students may involve the following procedures: differential reinforcement of low rates of responding (DRL), the differential reinforcement of response omission (DRO), and the differential reinforcement of incompatible (DRI) or alternative…

This paper reports on research analyzing the psychological dynamics behind school administrators' personnel decisions. As individuals become more aware of their own psychological constructs and those of others, the total number of constructs employed tends to increase and to be organized in a more complex, integrated manner. (PP)

Hypothesized clients would change whether counselors' interpreted symptoms as connoting negative characteristics or positive characteristics. Students in two treatment conditions decreased their depression significantly during treatment. Students receiving negative connotative interpretations experienced symptom relapse following treatment;…

Sex role development is discussed, beginning with processes through which children adopt sexual identity and related behaviors. The growth of androgyny (measured by the Bem Sex Role Inventory) in adult males and females is documented, and changes in the sex role behavior of men and women over 50 are described. (PP)

The study evaluated the effectiveness of a role-playing teaching strategy designed to enhance generalization of social behavior with a 20-year-old female previously labeled as mentally ill and borderline retarded. Results demonstrated that the role-playing sessions teaching strategy effectively modified office entry behaviors in training, school,…

Presents research which indicates that alcohol education efforts based on a "knowledge-attitude-behavior" model can be effective in reducing alcohol problems. Summarizes essential requirements of effective alcohol education. (RC)

Used self-report measurement procedures to examine the impact of an experimental alcohol course on junior high school students' attitudes, alcohol knowledge, and behaviors.Group outcome analysis indicated limited change; however, results were influenced by subject characteristics. Previous research and directions for future alcohol education…

Using William Blake's work, discusses the element of the ideal in the development of contemporary adolescents. Discusses a model of constructive change in which explicit future outcomes are used as a starting point to construct new skills needed for change. Describes a monitoring system to measure progress. (RC)

Tested the effectiveness of a skill-training method, Structured Learning Therapy (SLT), and identified variables that will promote transfer of training. Disruptive male adolescents (N=43) were assigned to three experimental and two control conditions. Found groups receiving the SLT performed significantly better than groups not receiving SLT.…