Investigates factors that have effects on conditioning. Tests nine mice with three types of reinforcement: (1) primary-need positive reinforcement; (2) secondary-need positive reinforcement; and (3) secondary-need negative reinforcement. Measures the effectiveness of the reinforcements by both rate of response and response strength. Discusses the…

Describes an educational program that contributed to a 90% reduction in the use of physical restraints in nursing homes over a two-year period. Program consists of a workshop, telephone and on-site consultations, regional meetings, and other support materials. Surveys suggest that the project can be easily adapted by care providers. (RJM)

College student binge drinkers incur significant adverse consequences for themselves and others, yet often do not see their drinking as problematic. Counseling interventions should therefore be sensitive to relevant consequences, motivational level, and readiness to change. Article integrates harm-reduction principles, motivational interviewing,…

Examined the effect of a 6-week mind/body intervention on college students' psychological distress, anxiety, and perceived stress. Comparison of the responses of intervention and control group students indicated that intervention students had significantly greater reductions in psychological distress, state anxiety, and perceived stress. They also…

Describes the development of the brief motivational intervention for substance abuse, Guided Self-Change (GSC), as well as its modification for use with delinquent adolescents. Strategies are outlined to promote the flexible implementation of GSC in community settings with diverse groups of adolescents. (Contains 21 references.) (GCP)

Study assessed relative influence of perceived level of support for adolescent's alcohol use by best friends, most students in school, live-in parents/guardians, and adults in neighborhood/community. Findings revealed some differences by sex and grade level, and the different kinds of drinking behavior. Prevention programs including all four…

Reports a long-term follow-up of the effects of self-modeling on the reduction of stuttering in two groups of students who initially evidenced different mean percentages of stuttered words. Results reveal that students involved in the initial study who initially exhibited substantially higher mean percentages of stuttered words, maintained their…

Addresses the importance of a basic understanding of neuroscience in marital, couple, and family therapy training and practice. Examines the biological and physiological processes underlying emotions, memory, and neurochemistry, and emphasizes their impact on behavior. (Contains 20 references.) (GCP)

This article provides a rationale for school social workers to be knowledgeable about empirically validated family approaches for treatment for ADHD. The literature is reviewed and organized according to theoretical framework and developmental stage of the child. The authors critique the literature and offer suggestions for further research and…

The 10-year followup study of a severely retarded man treated for self-injurious behavior with a multiphased behavioral and vocational program found the incidence of self injurious behavior remained infrequent and rarely resulted in tissue damage. (Author/DB)

Distressed couples (N=15) were randomly assigned to group, conjoint, or waiting list conditions. Behavioral communication treatment package administered over eight sessions and was evaluated via multidimensional assessments was found to be highly effective modality for resolution of marital dysfunction. Both group and conjoint treatments were…

Staff members (N=72) of 12 community residential facilities for the retarded rated the acceptability of four behavior modification procedures. Treatments were rated according to their restrictiveness with differential reinforcement of other behavior the most acceptable, followed by time-out, overcorrection, and shock. (Author/DB)

Restructuring constraining thoughts is an important step in career counseling. A collaborative approach enables counselors to assist clients in (1) recalling distressing situations, (2) determining associated thoughts and feelings, (3) discovering underlying beliefs, (4) summarizing the thoughts, and (5) examining the relationship between beliefs,…

The article provides a staff observation form for providing feedback to increase staff's differential reinforcement of incompatible behaviors in the training of appropriate leisure activities in persons with severe and profound handicaps. (DB)

Reviews issues relevant to the use of humor in children's therapy. Discusses applications in the following contexts: (1) psychodynamic psychotherapy; (2) behavioral treatments of phobias; (3) family therapy; and (4) purposeful use of games and stories. (FMW)