This laboratory study of self-monitoring effects examined hypotheses that the direction of reactive effects is a function of the perceived value of the target behavior and that neither the behavior's value nor self-monitoring alone is sufficient to produce significant effects but that both are necessary. (Author)

The ability of aversive conditioning and contingency management to control smoking was compared. Although contingency management was more effective in the short run, at a six-month follow-up treatment effects were no longer evident. (SE)

Significant reduction of seizures in an 11-year-old girl was achieved through a contingency management program implemented by her classroom teacher. The program was designed to shift the focus from her actual seizures to her seizure-free time periods. Seizures diminished over the total treatment period. (Author)

Self-reinforcement through positive or aversive covert imagery was studied in obesity treatment. Subjects were randomly assigned to no-imagery, self-punishment followed by self-reward, and self-reward followed by self-punishment conditions. Neither order nor kind of reinforcement made any difference. Both reinforcement groups were superior to…

Two studies were performed comparing the effectiveness of fixed-ratio (FR) and variable-ratio (VR) schedules of punishment during application and extinction. Subjects were two young children. Both studies found significant positive "side effects" of punishment in terms of increased play and social behavior as well as increased performance of…

To determine whether the addition of milieu principles to a contingency program increases its effectiveness, the investigators compared two treatment programs in a mental hospital: (a) a social learning or token economy approach and (b) a combined social learning and milieu approach. (Author)

Underweight subjects were assigned to either a self-reinforcement condition, a self-punishment condition, or to a discussion/reflection control condition. The subjects received one treatment session per week over a five-week period. After treatment, the self-reinforcement groups gained significantly more pounds (kilograms) than either of the other…

Unhappily married couples (n=10) were divided into an experimental and control group. The treatment program consisted of training couples to interact more positively and efficiently when engaged in problem solving and teaching couples to make written contingency contracts. The group receiving treatment improved significantly more than did the…