Responds to the comments by D. McKay; B. D. Thombs, L. R. Jewett, and M. Bassel; M. D. Anestis, J. C. Anestis, and S. O. Lilienfeld; and W. W. Tryon and G. S. Tryon on the current author's original article, "The efficacy of psychodynamic psychotherapy." The academic psychology literature is filled with pronouncements about psychodynamic theory,…

Author responds to comments (EC 232 033-037) on his paper (EC 232 032) concerning use of aversive therapy or punishment with mentally retarded persons. Paper notes ideological connotations often implied in the term "punishment" and the lack of response to the distinction made in his paper between this and the functional relations…

In response to James Mulick (EC 232 032), this paper states that a resolution of the Association for Persons with Severe Handicaps calling for termination of the use of aversive procedures is appropriately ideologically based as long as continued behavioral research into positive means of controlling behavior is not discouraged. (DB)

The conflict between viewing aversive therapeutic interventions with mentally retarded persons from either an ideological or scientific perspective is examined. It is concluded that some of those who reject aversive therapeutic interventions do so out of a poor understanding of behavioral science and a primarily ideological frame of reference.…

This paper comments on James Mulick's paper (EC 232 032) and views Mulick as rigidly committed to the behavioral paradigm, selectively evaluating data, and misrepresenting the opposition. Because aversive procedures are not wholly effective, positive, educative interventions are encouraged. (DB)