An 11-year-old nonverbal boy diagnosed autistic was trained to communicate wants and needs with manual signs. Sign training in the corner of the classroom had no effect on generalization or maladaptive responses, while training in the natural setting was functionally related both to use of signs across the school day and dramatic reductions in…

A concealed video camera can record learning disabled students' behavior and provide a nonjudgmental way for them to see how they appear to others. Such an approach can include a positive emphasis on redirecting energy as well. (CL)

Tested the effectiveness of Behavioral Self-Control Training in reducing alcohol consumption, blood alcohol concentration, drinking-and-driving incidents, and life problems. No significant differences were found between conditions on these variables suggesting that a controlled drinking goal may not be feasible for all drinking-and-driving…

Discusses sex bias in letters of recommendation written for college applicants. Examples of the problem and suggestions of ways to solve it are given. (BL)

Presents a provisional list of 11 good moments in psychotherapeutic sessions, that is, when clients manifest therapeutic process, movement, improvement, progress, or change. Lines of research inquiry are opened up by the proposed list. (Author/BL)

The Goodenough-Harris Draw-a-Person Test, if given at regular intervals during periods of remediation, may show clear evidence of improvement in behavior and attitude of learning disabled students. (CL)

The Memory Tracer, which provides prompts by playing prerecorded appropriate messages, was effective in maintaining a low rate of negative verbalizations by six adolescents with autism, schizophrenia, and severe behavior problems. (CL) 4B

Teaching exceptional children to use verbal cues to control nonverbal behaviors is suggested as a procedure for establishing adaptive behaviors and as a self-management strategy for ensuring generalization and maintenance of new responses. (Author/CL)

Outlines a method for improving one's rationality that can be understood and carried out by each individual, with a minimum of professional guidance. (Author/IRT)

Follow-up data from 10 couples who used behavior contracts in marriage counseling are presented. Conclusions suggest that contracts are effective in initiating positive marital behavior but not necessary for continued marital satisfaction. Rationale and specifics of contract construction are detailed. (Author)

Presents a brief statement of essential conditions for psychotherapeutic change: (a) a helping relationship patterned after the parent-child relationship; (b) the creation of a power base from which the therapist influences the client through common psychological techniques; and (c) a client who has the capacity to profit from the experience.…

The foibles of the fad that is behavior therapy are examined. (Author)