Positive interference, therapeutic interuption of a high-rate self-abusive or self-stimulatory behavior with a reinforceable desired behavior, was implemented on a self-abusive autistic nine-year-old. Findings demonstrated that a child can learn desired behaviors without completely suppressing undesirable behaviors. (SW)

Describes a nine-step method to overcome resistance from participants and get the most from using role playing in training. (JOW)

Examined nicotine replacement effects on postcessation weight gain in smoking cessation volunteers. Randomly assigned abstinent subjects to active nicotine or placebo gum conditions for 10 weeks. Analyses revealed strong evidence for gum effect on weight gain, with active gum users gaining mean total of 3.8 pounds compared with 7.8 pounds for…

Studied 65 women treated for early cancer, 22 women treated for benign disease, and 60 healthy women. Findings revealed that subjects with life-threatening diagnoses reacted with transitory depression, anxiety, and confusion. Cancer patients retained employment, significantly reducing working hours during recovery. Found no evidence for higher…

Discusses the problem of drunk driving primarily as a failure in the process of operant conditioning, with the inappropriate behavior of the drunk driver resulting from a profound ignorance of the potentially tragic consequences of his behavior. Concludes most effective way to understand consequences is to witness autopsies of drunk driving…

Three metaphors can help alleviate performance anxiety: (1) a cloud as a symbol for getting rid of unwanted behavior; (2) a snowball sweeping away all obstacles; and (3) a pyramid as a symbol of unsuspected inner resources. (SK)

Responds to previous article by Haaga and Stewart on perceived self-efficacy for recovery of abstinence from smoking after lapse and success in maintaining abstinence. Identifies and addresses issues regarding application of social cognitive theory to such areas as smoking cessation. Examines distinctions between efficacy and outcome beliefs,…

Peer interaction is examined as a source of behavior change in children and adolescents. The dynamics of peer influence are discussed in terms of six issues: characteristics of the influence source; characteristics of the child or adolescent being influenced; the relationship existing between influence source and the individual being influenced;…

Videotaped self-modeling (VSM) was developed as a means to allow participants to view themselves in situations where they are performing at a more advanced level than they typically function. VSM has been used effectively to train positive behaviors and reduce unwanted behaviors across a range of ages and behaviors; however, few studies of VSM…

In this article, the author shares how she taught concert etiquette to her students. The author started by having her students research concert etiquette online. She then created a music Web site bibliography, beginning with the MENC site (www.menc.org/guides/etiquette /etiquette_home.html). She relates that the teaching approach she used has…

Stimulus fading in the form of gradually increased exposure to a fear-evoking stimulus, often combined with differential reinforcement, has been used to treat phobias in children who are otherwise normal and in children with autism. In this investigation, we applied stimulus fading plus differential reinforcement with an adolescent with autism and…

Introduction: Diplomates in the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program satisfy the self-evaluation of medical knowledge requirement by completing open-book multiple-choice exams. However, this method remains unlikely to affect practice change and often covers content areas not relevant to diplomates'…

This study compared the impact of the Aban Aya Youth Project (AAYP; Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine 158: 377-384, 2004) social development classroom curriculum (SDC), school/family/community (SC) intervention curriculum, and a health enhancement curriculum (HEC) attention placebo control on changes over time in violent behaviors…

Background: Rates of overweight in youth have increased at an alarming rate, particularly in minority youth, and depressive symptoms may affect the ability of youth to engage in healthy lifestyle behaviors to manage weight and reduce their risk for health problems. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between depressive…

Using data collected from a pre-training survey, post-training survey, and telephone follow-up survey, this study analyzes the impact of the Money Smart financial education curriculum upon the financial opinions and behaviors of course participants during the survey period. The data indicate that Money Smart financial education training positively…