Survey results showed a reduction of 22.3 percent in the use of major and minor tranquillizers, indicating that a change in the emphasis of care toward training and a less institutionalized environment may help to reduce the need for drug therapy to control deviant behavior in intellectually handicapped people. (Author/SW)

The Assessment-Intervention Model for Deaf-Blind Students (AIM) was field tested with 37 deaf blind students, and their progress was compared to that of 40 students in schools using other curricula. Analysis supported claims for AIM's sensitivity to the small behavioral changes typical of these children. (Author/CL)

A token reinforcement program was successful not only in promoting positive behavior changes in a mainstreamed behavior problem second grader but also in creating attitude changes in her regular class teachers. Findings suggest that positive commitments to mainstreaming were related to the teacher's effectiveness in improving students'…

Intervention (modifying the reading activities so that the learner spent more time actively engaged in reading-related tasks) significantly reduced the rate of handgazing behavior in an 18-year-old severely mentally retarded woman. (Author/CL)

Studied interaction styles of premarital couples (N=148) and developed a typology of couple interaction at two points in time before marriage. Results showed only 7 percent of the couples had the same type of interaction at the two testings, supporting the hypothesis that premarital relationships are fluid. (WAS)

The Brazelton Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale was administered to 54 full-term, healthy infants on days 1 through 5 and on days 7 and 10. Infants were divided into eight groups, differing in terms of the obstetrical medication mothers received. Low dosages of obstetrical medication were found to have significant but subtle effects on the…

A five-and-one-half-year-old boy with encopresis (fecal soiling) was successfully treated by a cognitive behavior modification approach in which the child's lavatory time was scheduled and the situation was discussed in an accepting but positive manner. (CL)

Three studies examining the effects of correspondence training (reinforcement for matching verbal and nonverbal behavior) with 22 mildly and moderately retarded students revealed that the approach can be used to decrease maladaptive and increase adaptive behavior and that it can produce generalized behavior change. (CL)

Attempted to determine whether daydreaming is reactive to self-monitoring. One group of infrequent daydreamers tallied their daydreams, the second tallied and logged the content of their daydreams. There was a significant difference between the control group and the treatment groups, but neither method of self-monitoring proved superior. (Author)

The purpose of this article is to clarify critical variables in the individualizing process. These include selecting appropriate practices, dealing with the abstract, changing student behavior, and humanizing instruction. (SK)

Data indicate that addictive-appetitive disorders such as obesity, opiate use, and cigarette smoking are not (as most professionals believe) markedly resistant to long-term modification. Studies of nontherapeutic populations indicate that long-term self-cures of smoking, obesity, and drug use are relatively common events. (Author/GC)

The author explores the theory of changing basic thought processes in order to improve personal performance on the job. This entails helping people identify their existing thoughts and replacing the ones that won't support performance goals with those that will. (CT)

Bell and pad intervention to treat enuresis in a 21-year-old mildly mentally retarded male is reported. Enuresis was not significantly reduced after 22 weeks of standard bell and pad treatment. Therapist involvement in the program was deemphasized to offset the possibility that therapist visits were reinforcing wet nights. (Author/SW)