Emergency medicine residents at William Beaumont Hospital are evaluated quarterly by the nursing staff. The nurses discuss each resident and reach consensus on each evaluation item and copies are given to each resident. Although the residents' attitudes have not been favorable, overall their behavioral interactions have improved markedly.…

Summarizes and critiques 16 studies involving the cognitive and behavioral effects of aerobic exercise on children in both schools and clinical settings. Concludes that few studies concurrently measure physical and psychological changes that may accompany exercise in children and suggests methods for further investigation. (SW)

A solution-focused therapeutic approach to processing adventure experiences shifts the focus of debriefing sessions from problem to solution, helps clients recognize exceptions to their problem behavior, and sensitizes clients to seeking positive behaviors versus avoiding negative ones. Techniques include clients' rating of their own abilities on…

Examined effects of directed art activities on behavior of two preschool children and one kindergarten child with disabilities. Results indicated that directed art activity had larger effect than control condition on social behavior of two children, whereas control condition generated little effect. Neither art activity had measurable effect on…

This case study focused on an adult with severe disabilities and multiple problem behaviors fitting a pattern of behavioral escalation. Functional assessment indicated that use of rule statements by the teacher was related to occurrence and escalation of problem behaviors. Elimination of rule statements was an effective instructional intervention…

The Mentors in Violence Prevention Project seeks to reduce violence against women by inspiring male athletes and other models of traditional masculinity to challenge norms that equate strength in men with dominance over women and to use their influence for positive behavior change. (SK)

This study evaluated the effectiveness of self-monitoring across a classroom for students with emotional and behavioral disorders. All students showed increases in the percentage of intervals engaged in on-task behavior following implementation of the self-management procedures. The disruptive behaviors of one student were reduced to near zero…

This paper reviews the efficacy, cautions, side effects, and modes of action of two antiandrogens (medroxyprogesterone acetate and cyproterone acetate) in treating individuals with mental retardation who have engaged in offensive sexual behavior. Ethical and medico-legal issues are also discussed. (Author/JDD)

Factors associated with antisocial and aggressive behaviors in the schools are considered. Past practices are contrasted with emerging approaches to opposing aggression, including primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention. The need for comprehensive intervention, the current policy of inclusion, and changing school personnel preparation…

Nonverbal and verbal techniques that teachers can use to manage surface behaviors are suggested, including planned ignoring, eye contact, facial expression, body posture, close proximity, touch control, limitation of space, redirection to another activity, ventilation, distraction, understanding and reassurance, modeling, humor, one-to-one…

Describes results of meta-analysis of 63 group sensitivity training studies, which revealed a moderate size, heterogeneous effect on all outcome measures, including a significantly larger effect on behavioral measures than on self-report measures. Interventions involving larger groups and number of sessions had larger effect sizes, as did studies…

A toilet training method for autistic children is described, involving selection of one optimum time per day and challenging the child to urinate. Other toileting times are added, and eventually the youngster is rewarded for remaining dry. Appended are a training data sheet and instructions on using time-out to reduce severe problems. (Author/SW)

This study attempted to evaluate patterns of behavioral change resulting from abuse in a school setting of 12 children with pervasive developmental disorders, primarily autism. Use of parental reports (with corroboration when possible) found consistent patterns in both the nature and timing of behavioral disturbances, which seemed to relate…

The report describes the successful treatment of trichotillomania (compulsive hair pulling) in a mentally retarded 11-year-old boy with autism and severe mental retardation. Administration of haloperidol resulted in complete cessation of hair pulling which reappeared when the dosage was decreased and ceased again when dosage was reestablished. (DB)

This paper identifies critical components of recent organizational quality improvement programs and specifies how applied behavior analysis can contribute to quality technology. Statistical Process Control and Total Quality Management approaches are compared, and behavior analysts are urged to build their research base and market behavior change…