Results from the study indicate that the awareness-of-rationalizations procedure is more effective in convincing discontented smokers of the personal relevance of the health hazards of smoking than the control procedure, which presents the same specific information to refute typical rationalizations. (Author/PC)

Capitalizing on student interest and establishing contingencies for good behavior are seen to be effective ways of dealing with behavior problems in the classroom. (CL)

Twelve months after a 24-hour period in a socially isolated, monotonous environment, subjects had reduced their rate of cigarette smoking by an average of 48 percent, compared with 16 percent for control subjects. A smaller sample reported similar results at the end of 24 months. (Author)

Five groups of 15 female subjects reporting fear of snakes participated in two behavioral avoidance tests employing a snake as the target object. Results are discussed both in terms of implications for psychotherapy outcome research design and possible usefulness of situational variables in the development of more effective anxiety-reduction…

Discussed cooperative educational efforts between parents and teachers that focused on vocational preview, minicraft courses, and behavior modification. (Author/RK)

The report summarizes an evaluation of the effects of summer programs on the behaviors and skills of 186 severely handicapped children. Programs were categorized by their orientation and by their length, resulting in five groupings: (1) 6-week high structure (educational skill and behavior goal-oriented), (2) medium structure (mixed recreational…

This case study examined the effects of unemployment upon an unskilled 31-year-old male client who had been laid off his job as an assembly line automobile worker after 13 years. Instead of searching for employment the client was sleeping late, watching television, and spending time at a local tavern. The general hypothesis tested was that the…

This study examined the determinants of attributions for success or failure in stopping smoking in a self-help treatment program with and without a drug component. Subjects (N=137) were randomly assigned to one of three experimental conditions: (1) nicotine gum and a self-help manual with an intrinsic motivational orientation; (2) self-help manual…

A nonverbal, severely retarded, 24-year-old female, who had undergone abdominal surgery due to pica (compulsive eating of inedible substances) participated in the study. Antecendent scavenging behavior was reliably identified and redirected. Pica was prevented by using a short duration physical restraint. Giving non-edible items that might be…

Research suggests that depression is associated with low self-efficacy expectancies and that enhancement of self-efficacy expectancies may be effective in the relief of depressive symptoms. To examine the causal relationships between self-efficacy expectancies for interpersonal skills and depressed mood, two independent experiments were conducted.…

Results of several behavior modification programs are described. Legal concerns have arisen regarding whether individuals must consent to treatment. Dr. Michael Lerner, a Kansas City lawyer, says consent must be given. (RH)

Peers chosen on the basis of their popularity and positive involvement in the educational process were found to be effective enhancers of attendance for chronic absentees. The judicious use of situational and interpersonal reinforcement can modify a student's behavior even in a region as indifferent to education as Appalachia. (EH)

This article reports on an effort to change a teacher's behavior in a natural classroom setting. The author attempted to use modeling procedures as a means to increase the frequency of positive pupil-teacher contacts. Results were favorable. (Author)