Psychological training programs developed and implemented for gymnasts of a wide range of age and varying ability levels are examined. The programs utilized strategies based on cognitive-behavioral intervention. The approach contends that mental training plays a crucial role in maximizing performance for most gymnasts. The object of the training…

Alcohol abuse is a serious problem affecting not only the individual abuser, but also family, friends and society. The effectiveness of contracts as positive tools in the treatment of alcohol abuse was investigated for 15 current abusers randomly assigned to individual therapy sessions. Each subject completed a Personal History Questionnaire, the…

The literature on symbolic forms of communication was reviewed, and an experimental program was designed to teach a single set of vocabulary to a group of four institutionalized profoundly retarded blind/mute adults through the use of gestures. Literature about deaf/blind persons suggested the use of coactive movement techniques and facilitation…

This review of the literature on self-speech, a subset of a communicative speech (speech not intended for nor effectively adapted for communication with others), focuses on the concept of self-control through language. The theories of six major researchers in the area of self-speech--J. Piaget, L. Vygotsky, A. Luria, H. Reese, J. Flavell, and L.…

Although the augmental value of exercise to behavioral weight control programs has been suggested, demonstration of this value is dependent upon an assessment of adherence to change in eating habits and activity patterns. Self-report measures of adherence were obtained from overweight college women undergoing treatment that involved either dietary…

The use of paradoxical interventions and brief therapy interdictions with a population of emotionally disturbed adolescents (males and females ages 13-18) attending a semi-residential alternative school was investigated. Paradoxical interventions were made by the psychological staff for purposes of management and change of withdrawn, acting out…

Based on a behavioral technology based program at the University of Washington, a manual is presented for professionals who wish to establish a program to train retarded persons for, and place and maintain them in, nonsheltered employment. A detailed analysis of the components of such a program is provided, along with a general description of the…

The Madison (Minneapolis, MN) school program provides intensive instructional and treatment services to students 12 to 16 years old with serious emotional and behavioral problems. The primary goal of the program is to aid individual students to develop sufficient coping skills and self based behavioral controls so they can successfully return to…

The Teaching Parents Program at a center for moderately retarded students (5 to 13 years old) who may also be visually handicapped, multiply handicapped, or emotionally disturbed allows parents to learn principles of behavior modification, task analysis, and data collection while working with a child in the classroom. Materials used in the program…

This bibliography is a collection of references from education and psychology developed for the professional practitioner in counseling, school psychology, personnel services, and educational administration. Articles concern consultation theories and research projects that provide valuable information on the critical variables and conditions for…

A high priority area for behavioral community psychologists involves working to strengthen informal support systems within communities. A collaborative effort between a community group and academic based psychologists focusses on a community problem--dog litter in an urban area. An original demonstration project was used to influence the political…

The efficacy of training parents as behavior modifiers of problem behaviors displayed by their seven-year-old severely retarded son was investigated in relationship to targeted problem behaviors including throwing objects, refusing to comply with parental commands, and refusing to sit in a chair at a table. In order to deal with the child's…

This study investigates the effectiveness of an instruction-simulation videotape in training counselor candidates to use counselor-tacting response leads (CTRL's). Such verbal responses are viewed as essential to behavior modification therapy since they operationally define specific behavioral events and the stimulus conditions associated with…

The use of reinforcement as a treatment technique by a counselor is demonstrated. Its purpose is two-fold: (1) to evaluate the effectiveness of the technique; and (2) to actively involve the participant in the demonstration. A pre-test involves presentation of a hypothetical situation from which the participant is to select: (1) problem behaviors;…

The Residential Youth Center, based in the inner city, was established to house those "high risk" youths who were not being reached by existing manpower programs. The staff consisted of indigenous, nonprofessional personnel who worked intensively with families. The project was able to effect tremendous behavioral changes in dozens of…