A cognitive, nonintrusive method of controlling head-rocking behavior in an 11-year-old blind subject involved having the boy place his hand on his cheek or chin when prompted that he was rocking his head. The subject demonstrated significant decreases in head rocking during intervention and generalization during followup. (Author/JDD)

Investigated Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS)-prompted changes in sexual behavior of 312 college students. Three susceptibility variables (degree of romantic involvement, number of sexual partners, self-perceived risk taking) and three self-efficacy variables (engaging in presex discussions, frequency of contraceptive use, and…

Assigned 60 couples to training group learning behavioral strategies to promote healthy sleep patterns in infants or to control group. At 6-9 weeks, training group infants displayed significantly better sleeping patterns than did control infants. Training group parents awakened and responded less often to infant signaling and reported greater…

Examined extent to which college students (n=180) change their sexual behavior in response to understanding of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). Results suggest students have an understanding of AIDS. For this sample, some high-risk behaviors did decrease, presumably as a result of this knowledge, but there was much behavior that still…

Relationships among knowledge about AIDS, sex guilt, components of the Health Belief Model, and self-reported safer sex practices were examined in first-year college students. Found that knowledge about AIDS was not related to self-reported safer sex practices, but self-reported safer sex practices were positively related to sex guilt. (HTH)

This article reviews 66 studies which used applied behavior analysis to change the behaviors of students with visual disabilities. It documents the participants, targeted behaviors, procedures used, outcomes, and follow-up. The article offers recommendations for future researchers on the selection of subjects, target behaviors, appropriate…

Compared sexual experiences of 186 college students in 1979 to those of 215 college students in 1989. Found that self-reported condom use increased over decade. Percentage of respondents using any method of contraception and percentage who discussed contraception with partner increased from first to current partner but did not increase between…

Considered is the role of psychology in helping to change those human behaviors which have deleterious environmental effects. The foremost conclusion is that behavioral psychology can offer practical techniques for such change, yet there are indications that enduring behaviors may be better realized through the intrinsic motivation maintained by…

This case study of a severely hyperactive, moderately retarded 4-year-old boy evaluated the efficacy of methylphenidate, fenfluramine, and placebo over a 2.5-year period. Initially, methylphenidate was clinically effective in decreasing overactivity; however, it was later shown to exacerbate the child's symptoms. Fenfluramine was found to produce…

Customized skills assessments can perform a number of functions: help training departments demonstrate their effectiveness; provide a foundation for career development programs; reinforce company values; add feedback from the bottom up for performance evaluation; provide a concentrated focus for customer service improvement; and serve as a…

This literature review on antecedents, behaviors, and consequences in the noncompliant behavior of people with mental retardation found that noncompliance is more likely when instructions are vague or task demands are too difficult and that noncompliance responds well to programs utilizing combinations of social and tangible rewards. (Author/JDD)

This paper outlines, and refutes, concerns about structured behavioral teaching methods for children with learning difficulties. Concerns addressed include overly heavy reliance on extrinsic rewards, emphasis on learning without understanding, failure to allow students to learn from their mistakes, teaching out of context, and little use of…

Assigned 49 obese diabetic patients with obese spouses (diabetic or nondiabetic) to an alone or together (with spouses) treatment condition of behavioral weight control program. Found no significant differences in weight losses of patients at posttreatment or one-year followup, but did find that women did better when treated with their spouses,…

Resistance is not simply a function of individual psychology or pathology but is influenced by organizational variables such as norms, legalities, degree of teacher participation, and available resources. Change facilitators should refrain from imposing solutions, concentrate on beliefs and perceptions, emphasize processes, and encourage…

Solid waste curricula from various programs around the country were reviewed using eight variables identified as predictors of conservation behavior. Scores demonstrated that solid waste curricula focus mainly on knowledge and include, to a lesser extent, attitude change and action strategies. Lists the 14 programs evaluated in the study. (MDH)