Describes the "structured spontaneity" approach to family therapy training at the Boston Family Institute as it exists after ten years, considering the context of training as well as the flavor of the program. Reward for trainers is a kind of competent and creative independent thinking, focused on unjamming a deadlocked system.…

Presents one-year follow-up of clients completing a behavioral weight reduction program at Stanford University's Eating Disorders Clinic. Clients maintained in-treatment weight loss over the follow-up period, but there was marked variability and a low correlation between in-treatment and posttreatment performance. Clients reported significant…

Compared the Adjective Check List descriptions of addicts in treatment toward methadone maintenance, multimodality, and therapeutic community clients and program staff. Results indicate client pessimism regarding methadone maintenance. Results suggest addict opinions represent a valuable source for evaluating treatment approaches and identifying…

Parents were taught to use developmental checklists to observe their child's behavior and provide a basis for realistic goal setting. Parents were also taught behavior analysis techniques to apply to home learning situations. (Author/PHR)

Excessive "too-goodness" in a child can lead to obsessive neuroses which result in compulsions or ruminations. The only effective treatment is early prevention, culturally, socially, and behaviorally. Children must understand that all excesses are bad. Being bad is sometimes good. Being too good can be unhealthy. (Author/BEF)

The article reviews cognitive training for modifying social behaviors among handicapped children. The use of self-evaluation/instruction strategies is explored including such areas as locus of control and generalization and maintenance of appropriate behaviors. (PHR)

Behavior modification in a weight control program is examined in two models of operant and classical conditioning. Successful utilization of behavioral techniques is dependent on adherence to principles of learning, the skill and insight of the clinician, and the sensitivity to the individual needs of each client. (JN)

Improving health behavior through decision-making approaches is both a legitimate and important goal of health education. A decision-making model provides a basis for evaluating health problems in the context of knowledge, values, and attitudes. (JD)

The overweight college student is faced not only with the normal anxieties of adolescence but also with the special stress of surviving in a new environment. The nurse practitioner can guide students to bear responsibility for good health and provide a sound nutritional framework for a weight loss program. (CJ)

While a coach's practical goals necessitate having a winning team, this need is not inconsistent with other goals motivating players intrinsically, helping athletes deal with competition-related stress, and building an appreciation of individual worth and of team cooperation. (JD)

Interviews of consultants participating in a field experience with teachers showed plan-tactic-elicitors verbalized by consultants had a positive effect on the incidence of resources. Other types of consultant elicitors had a negative impact on resource incidence when compared to the incidence of other types of consultee responses. (Author)

A ratio adjustment procedure for baseline records which compares the observed response frequency with a maximum possible frequency for each observation period is described. This ratio is transformed into a response percentage with a more general predictive value for the behavior modification practitioner. (Author/RC)

Three articles presented at the 54th Annual Convention of the American School Health Association discuss: understanding stress with an emphasis on environmental factors; stress management techniques; and questions from the audience pertaining to stress management. (JN)

Among obese females following a behavioral weight loss program, a measure of perceived personal control significantly predicted outcome. Internals achieved greater mean weight loss. The internal control orientation was associated with higher extraversion and self-acceptance, but neither of these other variables correlated with weight loss. (Author)

A self-administered assertiveness training program trained refusal of unreasonable requests from strangers and close relationships. Comparison with a placebo program indicated the assertiveness program produced superior effectiveness of assertion, content of assertion, verbalization of assertion-related obligations, persistent assertive…