Factors that influence choice between qualitatively different reinforcers (e.g., a food item or a break from work) are important to consider when arranging treatments for problem behavior. Previous findings indicate that children who engage in problem behavior maintained by escape from demands may choose a food item over the functional reinforcer…

A descriptive analysis was conducted on studies on the behavioural treatment of drooling (published between 1970 and 2005). The 17 articles that met the inclusion criteria described 53 participants (mean age 14y 7mo, [SD 4y 9mo]; range 6-28y). Sex of 87% of the participants was reported: 28 male, 18 female. For 60% of the participants the degree…

The relation of mood and stress to binge eating and vomiting in the natural environments of patients with bulimia nervosa (BN) was examined using real-time data collection. Women (n = 131; mean age = 25.3 years) with BN carried a palmtop computer for 2 weeks and completed ratings of positive affect (PA), negative affect (NA), anger/hostility (AH),…

This article presents the argument presented by the author regarding the views of Baron and Galizio (2005), which provide an accurate and very clear version of the author's arguments against the use of the positive-negative reinforcement distinction in behavior analysis. Here, the author points out few things to add to Baron and Galizio's (2005)…

In this article, the author discusses and presents seven possibilities that describe how symmetry principles are reflected in behavior analysis. First, if there are apparently no functional distinctions to be made between positive and negative reinforcement, then reinforcer effectiveness (by various measures) is invariant under a simple inversion…

Explained for special teachers of emotionally disturbed children are interaction with positive consequences and interaction with negative consequen ces to modify behavior. (MC)

Using data corrected for victim underreporting, crime supply functions are reestimated in this paper. Underreporting is found in both a mean-variance specification and a conventional crime supply function that includes measures of the offender's gains and losses involved in property crimes that certainty and severity of punishment still deter.…

Three experiments are reported in which the effects of oral overcorrection, used as negative reinforcer, were determined for thumb sucking and other behaviors in two 4-year-old children enrolled in a day care program for culturally disadvantaged behavior-disordered preschoolers. (GO)

Too much praise from a teacher will often lead a child to expect easy rewards and therefore avoid more innovative or complex reasoning. (JD)

Accuracy of imitation by 60 kindergarten subjects was examined using a task in which a female modeled a series of pegboard patterns and delivered accuracy contingent feedback. Four methods of feedback and a no-feedback control were compared. (GO)

The article describes three aspects of negative reinforcement as it relates to applied behavior analysis: behavior acquired or maintained through negative reinforcement, the treatment of negatively reinforced behavior, and negative reinforcement as therapy. Current research suggests the emergence of an applied technology on negative reinforcement.…

Thirty-five 6- to 10-year-old children with initial low rates of donating to help a peer either received a fine for each failure to donate or also were informed of the contingency between the fine and failure to donate. (JH)

Results of a study of the effects of negative criticism indicated that group criticism reduces the cognitive performance of college students. (DR)

Aversive tickling was successfully used with two blind, retarded, adolescent girls as a punishment procedure to reduce frequency of self-destructive head banging in one case and a variety of attention-getting behaviors in the other. (Author/KW)

A cold bath was used as the aversive consequence in the therapeutic modification of nocturnal enuresis in two male siblings (one multiply handicapped, one normal). (KW)