The article attempts to introduce to a teacher or counselor a way of setting up a behavior modification plan. The example can be adopted to fit various situations. The teacher or counselor can select the needed behavioral change, determine successive approximations, and use an appropriate immediate reward system. (Author)

Reviews research on overcorrection, a behavior reduction procedure, and considers its applications to special education in terms of punishment aspects and effects on generalization and maintenance. Advantages (including its effectiveness) as well as disadvantages (such as the length of time it requires) are pointed out. (CL)

Statistically, haloperidol was significantly superior to placebo in reducing behavioral symptoms. In a discrimination learning paradigm, autistic children receiving haloperidol learned the discrimination while those on placebo did not. Discrimination attained on haloperidol was retained when the children were switched to placebo. (Author)

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…

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…