Imitation in the speech of the child serves at least three functions in the development of linguistic competence. Imitation provides auditory feedback for phonological and morpho-syntactic accuracy, produces a model for verification and/or clarification by speakers, and "makes time" for the processing and acquisition of information. Beyond these…

Although recognition of problems posed by critical client statements and recommendations for counselors' understanding, empathy, and confrontation abound, interventions to aid counselors in coping with critical client statements are rare. Graduate-level counselor trainees (N=40) were assigned to one of four methods of supervision: interpersonal…

This paper outlines some of the origins and functions of modeling within a human service training context, particularly counseling psychology, and discusses some of the consequences of modeling as a training method. The materials suggest that an emphasis on affective experience and behavioral methodologies has limited the potential of social…

The Educational Supervision Program is designed to define the role of teacher supervisors and to identify and teach the skills needed for effective supervision. The program is based on social learning theory, which assumes that behavior change depends on the presence of three factors: (1) belief in the ability to change; (2) knowledge of probable…

A work-study program was designed to provide black inner-city youths with instruction and guidance in skills needed in their current jobs, especially their ability to speak standard English. The program used the technique of modeling to arouse students' motivation to adopt standard spoken English. Research has shown that the use of a model will be…

In this action research study, research findings related to developing children's prosocial behavior were discussed at a seminar with parent/teachers in a cooperative nursery school to determine if post-seminar parent/teacher intervention would lead to increased prosocial behaviors in the children. Forty-seven children in the nursery school were…

The intense striving for power which characterizes much of male behavior occurs inevitably as part of the process of gender acquisition and consequently contributes to a sense of psychological vulnerability in the male personality. Masculine and feminine attributes develop spontaneously from young children's tendencies to compare themselves to…

The purpose of this study was to test several hypotheses from self-efficacy theory in the area of children's arithmetic achievement. Fifty-six elementary school children showing low arithmetic achievement were assigned to one of four treatment groups of 12 subjects each (modeling-attribution, modeling-no attribution, didactic-attribution,…

Two experiments were implemented in which hyperactive children were exposed to models of their own age level. It was hypothesized that modeling treatments designed to demonstrate reflective problem-solving strategies would improve the problem-solving ability of both normal and hyperactive children, and that, concomicantly, children's ability to…

A child's peers may influence his behavior for better or for worse. By involving a child's peers in his therapy, their influence can be made to be consistently positive. By establishing tailor-made peer-therapy groups, the child psychologist will increase his therapeutic impact. Among the possible formats for involving peers in a child's treatment…

A two-group independent design was employed to study the relationship between parental age and modeling effectiveness. Subjects were 50 mother-father-child triads. The child's baseline data was recorded on a task that involved constructing a specified geometric shape on a pegboard. Then the child was asked to construct another shape modeling his…

In a single case study which incorporated a reversal within a multiple-baseline-across-subjects design, two women presented individual children (N=3) with eight natural-appearing opportunities to behave prosocially in each session (two opportunities each of helping, sharing, teaching, and sympathy). The training procedure involved a standardized…

Ninety-five college students participated in an investigation of the arousal and observational learning effects produced by television viewing. The subjects were assigned to one of three experimental television viewing conditions: a serious dramatic presentation with high physical and verbal violence, a comedy with high verbal conflict but no…

This paper is a report of a study which explores the relative contributions of norms, modeling, positive affect, and empathy to generalized reciprocity (prior help by one person leading to greater helpfulness by the recipient toward another person). Preschool children were randomly assigned to one of six groups and individually exposed to two…

This discussion of consultant preparation begins with a review of the current training practices followed by a consideration of and rational for emerging approaches. A working definition of consultation is presented, together with suggested curricular elements and instructional activities. (Author)