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)

A procedure was developed to establish control of three tarbet classroom behaviors by making point reinforcers backed up by hard goods contingent upon working behavior in both math and reading classes. Behavior frequencies experimentally established were maintained during the fading procedures in both math and reading classes. (Author)

Behavior modification has become a widely known practice in rehabilitation during the past decade. A medium of exchange or token is typically used to facilitate transactions and can be traded for backup reinforcers later on. This review of the use of token economies focuses on groups of individuals usually considered target rehabilitation…

Results of this field experiment supported the prediction that subjects in the expected-award condition would show less subsequent intrinsic interest in the target activity than subjects in either of the other two conditions (unexpected-award and no-award conditions). (Author/KM)

The findings of this study are interpreted as providing a preliminary indication that self-reward strategies are superior to self-punitive and self-recording strategies in the modification of at least some habit patterns. (Author)

The following questions were investigated: (1) Do student tutors with empathy training respond more empathically in a tutoring session? and (2) Do pupils perceive tutors who have received empathy training to be more empathic? (NQ)

Discusses the report of a task force of the American Psychiatric Association signaling change in the attitude of traditional psychiatry towards behavioral therapy. The report recognizes the effectiveness of behavior modifications and recommends that the teaching of behavior therapy be expanded. (JR)