Carol Pilgrim received her PhD from the University of Florida in 1987 with a specialization in the experimental analysis of behavior. She is currently Professor of Psychology and Associate Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of North Carolina-Wilmington. She has been honored with a Distinguished Teaching Professorship, the…

We examined whether using virtual reality (VR) technology to provide students with direct exposure to evidence-based psychological treatment approaches would enhance their understanding of and appreciation for such treatments. Students enrolled in an abnormal psychology course participated in a VR session designed to help clients overcome the fear…

Describes a simulation game reinforcing students' understanding of the four elements of behavior modification: measurement, intervention, evaluation, and maintenance. (CK)

Describes an experiment to determine if college students could be stimulated to undertake additional self-modification projects after completing similar projects in personal adjustment courses. Student responses to questionnaires indicated that experimental group students, who were required to submit plans for additional projects, were more likely…

This study looks at the effects of two types of inservice training--live and videotape instruction--on the subsequent acquisition of knowledge and counseling skills of correctional staff assigned to work with imprisoned adult offenders. (Author/RM)

This report describes the introductory psychology demonstration showing conditioned taste aversion in rats based on those animals' inability to distinguish between safe NaCl and toxic LiCl solutions. Test results showed the established phenomena of classical conditioning. Included is a discussion of the experiments relevance to behaviorist…

Urges community psychologists to act as behavioral ecological matchmakers--a role entailing identifying individuals or groups desiring behavioral change and linking the target participants with networks of settings analyzed previously as facilitating the specified changes. (Author/DB)

Describes a training program to improve graduate psychology students' seminar presentation skills. Outlines the behavior modeling and interviews with professors used in the training. Concludes that the project was evaluated favorably by professors in other courses where students made presentations and by the students themselves. (CFR)

Discusses a microcomputer program that was created to simulate the behavior of a computerized "animal" so that students could practice the shaping of behavior. Describes mathematical algorithms that allowed the "animal" to show gradual improvements in directional movements after appropriate shaping. Reports that students were…

Describes a partnership between Zoo Atlanta and the Georgia Institute of Technology in teaching the principles of operant conditioning to students in an experimental psychology class. Maintains that the positive training techniques used in zoos are models of applied operant conditioning. Includes a discussion of zoo training goals. (MJP)

Introduces introductory psychology students to behavioral techniques for reducing anxiety and avoidance behavior through the use of participant modeling. Employs guided participation as a technique to encourage students to touch a snake. Finds this method provides an excellent introduction to behavior therapies and engages students in the learning…

Briefly reviews the research literature concerning the overjustification effect. The effect describes the situation where positive reinforcement reduces one's intrinsic motivation for a behavior, thereby decreasing the probability that the behavior will be repeated. Notes the limitations of this explanation and recommends a broader representation…