Use of a tangible reinforcer plus social reinforcement was found to be more effective in training a 33-year-old male with profound mental retardation to brush his teeth than social reinforcement alone. Determination of true positive reinforcers and training staff members to carry out such treatment programs are also discussed. (Author/VW)

Parents of three Down's Syndrome infants, aged 2-8 months, provided continuous reinforcement for vocalization (CRF) and differential reinforcement of other-than-vocalization (DRO). All infants produced systematically higher vocalization rates during CRF, even though the amount of social stimulation during DRO was equal to or greater than the…

It is argued that a behavioral objectives approach to dance education is dangerously limited because it is dominated by a particular view of theoretical psychology that attempts to understand skill learning in terms of conditioning and reinforcement. This approach is especially limited in the teaching of creative and expressive dance. (RM)

Presents summaries and opposing views of six of B. F. Skinner's major tenets of behavioristic psychology. Relates conflicting positions on issues as environmental determination, problem solving techniques, cultural reinforcement, and mental processing. (ML)

Tested were the long term effects of behavior modification and training in self-management on generative writing behavior with a total of 13 educable mentally handicapped children in special classes. (PT)

The stereotyped, self-stimulating, autistic behavior (such as head weaving or body rocking) of 32 severely or profoundly retarded adults in a state hospital ward was virtually eliminated through nonreinforcement, reinforcement accompanied by praise, reinforcement combined with autism reversal procedures, and only autism reversal procedures. (MC)

Discusses the controversy concerning language learning theories as epitomized by Chomsky and Skinner, and concludes that heredity and experience are equally important in language acquisition. (DD)

Article attempts to orient the reader to the behavioral approach and an overall perspective of the main elements that must be evaluated in preparation for formulation of a treatment program. (Author/RK)