Research and theoretical literature about adult development and adult learning are synthesized within a conceptual framework that has three basic domains: life phase, developmental stage, and learning style. The life phase includes theories that identify age-linked periods of stability and transition throughout adulthood. The development stage…

BAER, PETERSON, AND SHERMAN HAVE ATTEMPTED TO BUILD A GENERALIZED RESPONSE SYSTEM (GRS) IN THE FORM OF IMITATIVE BEHAVIORS (IB) IN THREE SEVERELY RETARDED CHILDREN (S'S). IN THE FIRST PHASE OF THE STUDY, 130 IMITATIVE RESPONSES WERE TAUGHT BY IMMEDIATE, INDIVIDUAL REINFORCEMENT. THE S'S ALSO PERFORMED RESPONSES WHICH WERE NEVER REINFORCED. BY…

BEHAVIOR THEORY CAN FORTIFY SOCIAL CASEWORK BY PROVIDING PRACTICAL LINKS BETWEEN THE IDENTIFICATION OF THE CLIENT IN DISTRESS, THE DELINEATION OF CLINICAL GOALS, THE FORMULATION OF PLANS OF INTERVENTION, AND THE MEASUREMENT OF OUTCOME. THESE BASIC ASSUMPTIONS IN THE BEHAVIORAL APPROACH ARE IMPLICIT IN THE STRUCTURE TREATMENT--(1) ALL SOCIAL…

THE PRACTICE OF SOCIO-BEHAVIORAL THEORY CONSISTS OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF SOCIO-BEHAVIORAL KNOWLEDGE (SBK) IN PROBLEMS INVOLVING THE CHANGE, STABILIZATION, OR CONTROL OF HUMAN BEHAVIOR, AND OF THE BEHAVIORAL SPECIFICATION OF THE ACTIVITIES OF THE HELPER. THE NATURE OF SBK IS DESCRIBED, AND INDIVIDUAL, GROUP, ORGANIZATIONAL, AND COMMUNAL MEANS OF…

The leading frame-of-reference theories make opposing predictions about the effects of message discrepancy on attitude change. Assimilation-contrast theory predicts that messages that are highly discrepant with initial attitudes are likely to produce less attitude change than messages that are mildly discrepant. In contrast, perspective theory…

The paper suggests that culturally determined patterns of perception should be related to Fritz Heider's attribution theory in order to understand differences of perception in male-female interaction. The first section explains Heider's theory as a complex process in which past experiences with the person or act may influence perceptions. For…

This conference report consists of two presented papers and a selected bibliography. The paper by Joan Gussow, "Behavioral Management and Educational Goals," is concerned with operant conditioning as a theory of learning and an instructional method. Basing their methods on the work of B.F. Skinner, educators who are proponents of this…

One of 52 theoretical papers on school crime and its relation to poverty, this chapter is an attempt to bridge theory, research, experience, and practical responses in schools encountering crime. Based on extensive work in schools experiencing high rates of violence and vandalism, the authors present a brief review of existing theoretical…

One of 52 theoretical papers on school crime and its relation to poverty, this chapter is an attempt to adopt a social network model to describe linkages between the school and socialization organizations within a community, and, from this view of the social structure, to develop strategies that will promote more arrangements that are better able…

This paper takes a step toward the construction of a general social theory. As the author points out, such a theory must deal with the interplay of social organizations, social movements and social institutions, and the interaction between them and individuals. The author hints that a theory of choice and exchange may some day meet these…

This paper raises questions about the significance of errors made by language learners. The discussion is divided into four parts: (1) definition of error analysis, (2) the present status of error analysis research, including an overview of the theories of Lado, Skinner, Chomsky, Corder, Nemser, and Selinker; (3) the subdivisions of error analysis…

Planning, funding and operating anti-poverty programs require skilled community organizers. Training organizers deals with problems of how to motivate others and what tactics should be used when difficulty is encountered. Two approaches to these problems determined by images of 20th Century Man have been employed: (1) rational economic man who…

The greater part of this paper is dedicated to a non-technical discussion and criticism of the principles of Skinnerian behaviorism. Various aspects of the theory are examined, and its inability to deal with verbal behavior as a productive and creative activity is asserted. The author's point of view is that expressed by Noam Chomsky in his…

Three adult education conference papers, together with abstracts, are presented on adult education participation and self-concept. Propositions regarding behavior and motivation are discussed in the context of a theory of self-concept. Curiosity, enjoyment of learning activities, and pleasure in acquiring and/or possessing knowledge are among the…

A course, called Nature of Science, is described as developed over the eight years it has been presented to nonscience majors at a liberal arts college. The aims of the course are to show important ties between science and those disciplines in which nonscience students' primary interests lie; to develop in nonscience students the recognition that…