Fantasy activities are part of everyday experience. The author imagines hugging or touching someone, daydreams about sitting on a bench or riverbank, visualizes standing up during a boring meeting and shouting "let's wake up and do something!" Fantasy is also a tool that can be used in experimenting with new behavior, becoming more aware…

Behavior can be modified because it is governed by its consequences. Observable behavior, excluding its causes, is modified by the application of techniques derived from B.F. Skinner's operant learning theory. Optimum effects can be achieved only after thorough knowledge of the child is gained, particularly in the area of his capabilities. The…

This document presents an analysis of the early attending responses and orienting reactions of infants which can be observed at birth and shortly thereafter. Focus is on one specific orienting reaction, the early direction and maintenance of one's eyes and head toward certain stimuli instead of others. The physical properties of stimuli that…

The play behavior of young children is viewed as a behavioral manifestation of nonverbal thinking. Discussed are issues of relevance to the understanding of the development of thought in general and of the symbolic function in particular. A line of development is proposed which leads from early nonverbal thought as manifested in play, either…

A sample of family therapists responded to three hypothetical cases depicting a problem that could be normal for each of three developmental levels. For each case, chi square analyses showed no differences according to sex, education, parent status, and age of own children for proportion of counselors giving developmental responses. (Author/CH)

Examines the interplay between genes and environment and argues that the development of much individual variation can be explained in terms of relatively simple forms of underlying regulation. Looks at "sensitive periods," during which variation is produced by experience received at a particular age. Includes a discussion of the…

Three preschool children with significant behavioral and developmental delays were taught to participate and respond to teacher commands during large group instruction, important skills for later mainstreaming. Techniques included increasing "opportunities to respond" through increased rates of teacher commands to the group and instituting a group…

Details some problematic features of G. Zivin's framework on the development of expressive behavior. (HOD)

In this study, a transfer of stimulus control procedure was used to establish generalized verb-noun instruction-following skills in two severely retarded boys. (Author/JH)

Possible reasons for the current resurgence of biological determinism are discussed. Deterministic arguments are classified as being based on the general human species or based on presumed differences among racial groups. The first type of argument is presented and some alternate interpretations proposed. (LS)

This is the second of two articles on Modern Management Dynamics. The purpose of this program and the developmental research done on it was to evolve a method of determining how much a trainee learns from a training program and how the trainer can improve his program through pre-test and post-evaluation. (DS)

The authors propose that the manager's total career life (total life space, middle level behavior alternatives subject to personal control, and interactive, interpersonal communication, focused on mutual career development) be considered in approaching career development, rather than artificially isolating segments of the individual's life. This…

A model combining a behavioural approach with Reality Therapy was used effectively in controlling a group of behaviour problems in the classroom. In this design the children earned and/or lost certain rewards depending on their daily classroom behaviour. Some difficulties that may arise, and suggested solutions to these, are discussed. (Author)

The study of origin and evolution of man gives new perspective for understanding his behavior. Physical behaviors such as walking and throwing are results of biological evolution which has not kept pace with sociocultural evolution. Irrational decisions by man in social, cultural, and political fields are results of this brain activity. (PS)

Direct observations of animal behaviors can provide clues to understanding human behavior. By such observations of animals close to man, certain behavior patterns have been established. Man's behavior in social and cultural fields is an adaptation of these behavior patterns. (PS)