Discusses behaviors which culminate in suicide attempts and relates these to the biological concept of conservation-withdrawal. Clinical advantages to this conceptualization are presented. (Author/JMF)

Discusses reasons for the limited behavior-analytic research about anxiety, describes recent developments in the experimental analysis of human behavior that make behavior-analytic study of anxiety more tenable, and examines some applied implications of these recent developments. Explores the term "anxiety" and recommends increased…

This booklet provides a behavioral analysis of child molesters. The terms child molesters and pedophiles are defined and distinctions are drawn between the two. The second section develops a law enforcement typology differing from those of mental health professionals, focusing on pre-arrest behavior or pre-identification behavior of child…

Alcoholics Anonymous was founded in 1935 and observed its 50th anniversary in 1985. This document discusses the changes that have taken place in knowledge about alcoholism. Specifically, this booklet compares what behavioral scientists knew about alcohol abuse and alcoholism in 1935 and what they knew and could do about them in 1985. Contributions…

A review of research on state behavior among students with profound disabilities is presented, and a model depicting interactions of state with endogenous and exogenous variables is offered. Applications of the model are illustrated through four case studies displaying different state patterns. Measurable attributes of state having implications…

This paper considers key properties of behavioral phenotypes of mental retardation syndromes, including within-syndrome variability and between-syndrome similarities and qualitative differences. The "new genetics" research requires combining data from three strategies: (1) a psychiatric approach, (2) psychometric methods, and (3) syndrome-specific…

Summarizes the major research findings on the relationship between television violence and aggressive behavior; concludes that, while there is no definitive proof that such a relationship exists, the evidence points strongly in that direction. (GT)

This article reviews literature on the responses of direct care staff to challenging behaviors of individuals with mental retardation. The paper constructs a behavior analytic description of the functions of care staff behavior in relation to their clients' challenging behaviors, draws a distinction between contingency-shaped and rule-governed…

Challenging three common presuppositions concerning role orientations (the values, attitudes, and expectations associated with professional and organizational roles), a research study explores the dimensions of role orientations in five models and suggests three mechanisms generating associations among these dimensions. (WD)

This article reviews a subsection of leisure research--studies on visitor characteristics, reactions, and behaviors in recreational settings. Four areas of visitor evaluation research are examined: (1) museums; (2) natural environments; (3) tourist sites, and (4) tourist facilities. The role of the psychologist in the development and improvement…

Review of literature on gender-linked aspects of nonverbal behavior reveals that the differences in nonverbal behavior are in line with societal expectations calling for women to be reactive and for men to be proactive. Communication between the sexes is discussed in terms of smiling, personal space, touch, and talk. (JMF)

Little has been done to identify the communication needs of nurses. The development of a model to use in examining their communication behavior can be an important first step in identifying those needs. The proposed model identifies four members of the staff nurse's role-set: patients, doctors, family members, and other nursing personnel. Each…

Reviews laboratory research on behavioral momentum conducted with pigeons and summarizes its findings and their generality to people, including those with mental retardation. Discusses the high-probability procedure used to establish compliance in clinical settings and based in part on an extension of the momentum metaphor. (CR)

A literature review of communications, psychological, physiological and other sociobehavioral research literature reveals a number of paradoxes regarding the emphasis by information gatekeepers, media, and audiences on messages that are negative, critical, pessimistic, conflict-and-tension-producing, skeptical, punitive, threatening,…

The biological and the cultural aspects of human play are inextricably linked and mutually influence each other. (LH)