THE PRESCHOOL IS A COMMUNITY OF REINFORCEMENT CONTINGENCIES WHICH WILL SHAPE AND MAINTAIN AN INCREASING REPERTOIRE OF SOCIAL BEHAVIOR AND WILL PUT THAT BEHAVIOR UNDER THE CONTROL OF PEERS. THIS STATEMENT WAS DEMONSTRATED IN A PROGRAM WHICH ANALYZED PROBLEM BEHAVIORS OF PRESCHOOL CHILDREN. IN GENERAL, THE PROGRAM CONSISTED OF TWO PROCESSES--(1)…

Reviews studies involving noncontingent reinforcement (NCR) for the treatment of challenging behavior such as aggression, self-injury, and extreme tantrums in persons with developmental disabilities. A clinical guide for implementation is delineated. Among the advantages of NCR is ease of implementation. NCR appears particularly relevant for…

Rotter's (1966) "control of reinforcement" construct is a dimension of belief or expectancy about the locus of reinforcing consequences for behavior. A generalized disposition is represented which ascribes reinforcement contingencies to either "external" (and, hence, uncontrollable) factors or to "internal" sources in which case the individual…

This paper provides the teacher with a brief introduction to the principles of behavior modification. Major areas of concern deal with the history of behavior modification, implications for the concept of mental health, the teacher's role, the difference between behavior modification and other forms of control, reinforcement, the role of…

Written in the form of programmed instruction, this book is designed to help parents and teachers understand and correct situations in which a child's behavior is distressing. The book utilizes the social learning approach (that people learn most behavior patterns from other people). The first section discusses how parents and children learn and…

This program organizes and focuses "peer group attention" upon a 'focus person.' This person has volunteered and has set his personal goals which he hopes to turn into real action with the help of the peer group. A schedule of peer group reinforcement helps to transform his goals into habits. The program can be introduced generally, for class…

Special schools or special classes are the prevalent vehicles of deviant behavior modification, although it is proposed here that effort should be first made to determine variables which influence behavior development and disturbance in the regular classroom. A need is seen to develop methods useful in regular classrooms to prevent or intervene in…

It is assumed here that the most effective way of reducing the rate of deviant child behavior is to alter the reinforcing contingencies supplied by the social agents who live with the child. The immediate focus for the intervention program is upon the social environment in which the child lives, because it is the parents, siblings, peers, and…

The efficiency of behavior modification technology, as a therapeutic intervention process, has been amply demonstrated. The establishment of special educational settings for modification of deviant behavior, as reported here, provides opportunity for a controlled analysis of the effects of groups of experimental variables, where treatment in…

Modern behavioral scientists have emphasized the importance of environmental influences in human behavior. If the basis for behavior development and change rests within the environment, an understanding and use of the methods of control by change agents, especially teachers, can result in more prosocial behavior. Planned reinforcement could…

The primary aim of this book is to bring to the grade school teacher a survey of the most recent techniques and ideas of behavior modification which are applicable to good classroom management. All of the approaches and techniques presented could be of interest to teachers working at all grade levels. Since research has shown that the systematic…

Reports on the misconceptions held about behavior analysis among students in two advanced undergraduate courses in behavior modification. Finds that only 3 of 13 common misconceptions were held widely. Reveals that these three misconceptions were resistant to change. (CFR)

The Pacific State Hospital conducted a demonstration experiment with 12 severely and profoundly mentally retarded male adolescents, which concentrated on modifying disruptive, bothersome behaviors while developing basic work skills required for daily activity in sheltered workshops. The experiment provided an integrated program for an entire day,…

This paper was presented at the 1970 International Joint Conference sponsored by the American Geographical Society and the American Division of the World Academy of Art and Science held in New York City. The author postulates that education can be accountable to a changing world scene by offering students a relevant education so they may…