Compared changes in male drug abusers treated in a therapeutic community (TC) with untreated drug abusers in prison. Results showed little change in subjects confined in prison relative to marked changes in those treated in a TC. TC treatment did not markedly affect psychopathic traits. (Author)

A study investigated whether the personality construct of repression-sensitization could identify which college students would or would not practice regular examinations for breast, cervical, or testicular cancer. Although knowledge of cancer increased after the lecture, no change was found in the frequency of breast self-examination while…

Describes a method of determining major counseling strategies with the TFA/Matrix system. A taxonomy describes individual patterns of thinking, feeling, acting, and behavior. Descriptions are integrated into four counseling steps. The system synthesizes all counseling data and ranks and sequences major strategies likely to assist the client's…

A school-based diet program for learning disabled children stresses modifying eating behavior by learning alternative ways of interacting with the environment. Techniques stress the importance of self regulation, strategies for self monitoring, the establishment of realistic weight goals, use of stimulus control procedures, increased physical…

Examined the relationship of relaxation training to hyperactivity in 10 boys ages 6-12. On all nine dependent variables, the subjects exhibited no change after neutral treatment and significant change after relaxation training. Data collected during the relaxation process demonstrated reduced muscle tension for all subjects. (Author)

This 16-month longitudinal study examined effects of time, classroom program, and child gender on play behaviors of preschoolers attending a formal education program or a discovery program. Analysis revealed that dramatic interactive play and transformational behavior increased, while constructive play decreased. Boys in discovery classroom…

A study was done to determine the effects of an activity-centered health education curriculum on the attitudes of fourth, fifth, and sixth graders. The results indicate that the students in the experimental group were much more inclined to change their health beliefs and behaviors in a positive direction. (Author/JN)

Research on prisonization has traditionally analyzed cross-sectional data testing either the importation or deprivation model. This investigation incorporates a longitudinal research design to analyze patterns of change in prisonization. Variables including individual status factors, prisoner status factors, factors specific to present…

Ethical issues confront behavior therapists in a variety of ways, and must therefore be defined. Being objective means being willing to change the mind even if belief is reinforced by the verbal community. Similarly, acting in a morally correct way sometimes means acting contrary to reinforcing practices. (PJC)

In study-skills courses, individualized contracts requiring students to identify nonproductive study behaviors and agree on strategies for desired change were examined for effects on attitudes toward study and achievement. Contract students improved significantly on self-reported attitudes toward study, gained better grade point averages, and…

Described the development of the life experiences survey for the measurement of life changes. It was designed to eliminate shortcomings of previous life stress measures and to allow for separate assessment of positive and negative life experiences. Studies bearing on the usefulness of the life experiences survey are presented. (Author/BEF)

Compared a peer model and professional model for teaching study skills to college freshmen. Subjects in both models significantly improved study skills relative to attention and waiting-list control groups. The peer model was as effective as the professional model in study-skills change. (Author/BEF)

Fifth-grade and kindergarten boys and girls were exposed to a violent televised episode introduced as a fictional portrayal or as a news broadcast or were not exposed to the violent episode. Aggressive reponses and helping responses were recorded immediately following exposure. Results revealed girls were less aggressive in the no-TV and reality…

The proposed model defines teacher anxiety as a teacher's somatic reactions and psychological state that, in the face of threat recognition, becomes defensive. An individual approach to teacher anxiety using biofeedback techniques, relaxation training, and systematic desensitization is proposed. (RC)

According to the Child's Personality Questionnaire results, feedback from parents and teachers and personal observation, the boys showed improvement in their patterns of communication, attitudes, and general adjustment. (Author/SB)