The investigation sought to teach a sequence of arrival behaviors to a severely mentally retarded 12-year-old child living in an institution. Withdrawal and reintroduction of the pacing prompts established that increases in independent arrival behavior were attributed to the pacing prompts. (Author/SB)

Research is reviewed that employs delay procedures with the severely handicapped as a means of shifting stimulus control. The parameters of delay procedures are delineated, including prerequisite student and teacher considerations, types of responses, levels of delay, single versus blocked trials, and basic delay methodology. (Author)

Examined therapist variables related to outcome in structured, cognitive-behavioral group treatment for depression. Each of eight leaders conducted two consecutive psychoeducational treatment groups. Results indicated leaders differed significantly on behavioral and group-process measures, but differences in depression outcome between leaders did…

The author offers teachers suggestions for dealing with hyperactive children in such areas as reducing distractibility, controlling impulsivity, and promoting interpersonal skills and adjustment. (SW)

Examined predictions derived from self-efficacy theory in comparing the effects of exposure and cognitive interventions with simple phobics. Guided exposure (GE) was significantly superior to cognitive restructuring (CR) in enhancing approach behavior, increasing level and strength of self-efficacy, reducing subjective fear, and decreasing…

Obese persons about to enter a group program intended to produce "conditioned satiety" were asked to estimate their weight loss. Their outcome expectation correlated significantly with weight loss recorded seven weeks later. However, the magnitude of expected weight loss exceeded the actual amount of weight lost. (Author)

The body weight of former participants to control long-term efficiency of behavior-oriented weight reduction programs was rechecked. Only 4 of the 21 available subjects regained weight over the three-year period. On an average, subjects lost 4.4 kilograms over the follow-up period. (Author)

Findings indicated that expert therapists were similar in their communication of empathy, the basis for their therapeutic relationships. Theoretical orientation, however, differentially influenced use of direct guidance and facilitative techniques, interview content, therapist self-disclosure, therapist initiative, and supportive therapy climate.…

Smokers were assigned to a smoking abstinence program, a smoking abstinence program plus social support, a smoking abstinence program plus social support and paraprofessional training, or a control group. Results revealed incremental improvement in treatment outcome due to social support and paraprofessional training manipulations. (Author/BEF)

Obese women were treated in behavior modification programs for overeating. Behavior programs were accompanied by subliminal stimulation and by symbiotic and control messages. The symbiotic condition gave evidence of enhancing weight loss. This finding supports the proposition that subliminal stimulation of symbiotic fantasies can enhance the…

Obese females were assigned to a standard behavioral treatment (SBT) group, a group receiving weight control manuals via mail (MMC), or a waiting list control condition. Results revealed superiority of both treatments over control condition. SBT subjects did better than MMC subjects. Weight loss for MMC subjects was minimal. (Author/BEF)

Students with examination anxiety took part in study of effectiveness of two kinds of treatment, structured psychodrama and systematic desensitization, in reducing test anxiety. Results showed that subjects in both treatment groups significantly reduced test-anxiety scores. Structured psychodrama is as effective as systematic desensitization in…

Adapting the cognitive behavior modification work of Bandura and Mahoney, the author suggests a "mediational approach" to teaching creativity in the art classroom; here the desired behavior is modeled, guided experience is offered for practice, then reward in the form of approval is given for successful completion of the event. (Editor/SJL)

The study evaluated the training progress of 38 institutionalized severely or profoundly retarded adults who received either paired social praise and edible reinforcement or social praise only. Results stressed the need for reinforcer sampling before initiating skill training. (DB)

Discusses the positive effects of contingent rewards (verbal praise and house-points) as effective reinforcers of correct handwriting responses in elementary classrooms. Points out that direct contingency rewards proved effective in changing behavior, while implicit contingency rewards possessed aversive qualities. (JD)