Anthony M. Graziano

Training parents as behavior therapists: A review

Abstract The following paper presents theoretical, empirical, and ethical rationales for the training of parents as behavior therapists for their own children. Thirty-four studies, ranging from single case studies to reports on large-scale, multi-family training programs, are critically reviewed, with primary emphasis on the nature and extent of parental involvement and responsibility, and on the level of methodological sophistication. Related papers are cited when appropriate. Further research and areas needing theoretical clarification are suggested, in relation to the future and expansion of this type of therapeutic intervention. In addition the implications of such an approach for both a “systems” model of child therapy and a prevention-oriented model of mental health services are discussed.

Parental Use of Physical Force in Child Discipline A Survey of 679 College Students

Surveys of parents have revealed the common use of physical punishment in disciplining children. In this study, responses of young, unmarried adults about their own personal experiences in having been spanked were obtained from 679 college freshmen. These respondents indicated (a) that being physically punished was a common childhood experience, with 93.2% of the respondents having been spanked as children; (b) that these young adults are now very accepting of the use of spanking by parents and they fully intend to carry on the spanking tradition with their own (future) children; and (c) that those who were not spanked as children are now significantly less accepting of the practice than those who were spanked. Other findings, such as the ages at which spankings occurred, their severity, injuries, the involvement of anger of parents and resentment of children, and the importance of studying common or “subabusive” violence against children are discussed.

Why We Should Study Subabusive Violence Against Children

This article argues that although it is important to study child abuse, it is also important to study and understand ordinary, everyday, subabusive violence against children. Five reasons for studying this issue are discussed; pervasiveness of subabuse, questioning the “natural” protectiveness of human parenting, possible relationship with child abuse, learning and interference of childrens learning, and humanitarian concerns. Research in this area is difficult to carry out. New research strategies are needed, and researchers are urged to explore this area.

Self-control instruction for children's fear-reduction

Abstract Five boys and two girls, 8 to 12 years of age, with severe night time fears of long duration, participated with their parents in three instruction sessions of self-control training for home-based practice. The parents supervised, monitored and rewarded with praise and “bravery tokens” their childrens self-control exercises practiced nightly before bed, i.e., (1) muscle relaxation; (2) imaging a pleasant scene, and (3) reciting special “brave” self-statements. The long-standing, highly resistant problems of night time fears were solved for all families. No newfears or other problems occurred over the three-month, six-month and one-year follow-ups.

Physical Punishment in Childhood and Current Attitudes An Exploratory Comparison of College Students in the United States and India

A cross-cultural comparison was made using ad hoc college student samples in the United States and India. Students responded to a questionnaire yielding data on their childhood punishment history, personal evaluations of that punishment, and current attitudes toward use of physical punishment in child rearing. The data indicate that the majority of both national groups reported having been physically punished as children, physical punishment appears to be condoned more by U.S. than by Indian students, and in both cultures, more physical punishment in childhood is associated with its greater acceptance in adulthood.

Associations Among Distorted Cognitions and Hypothetical Parenting Responses Prior to Parenthood

Using path analytic methods, the present study used two social-cognitive models of maladaptive parenting to predict endorsements of child punishment in a sample of 101 young adults who had not yet become parents. Participants completed paper-and-pencil measures of expectations, attributions, current aggression, and responses to vignettes about child rearing and social situations. Results suggest that working models of parent-child relationships are related in predictable ways to endorsements of cognitive and behavioral responses toward children in vignettes, even in adults who are not yet parents. An extended model of maladaptive parenting that included beliefs and behaviors regarding current peer relationships was not validated. Gender moderated the influence of past punishment on level of unrealistic expectations about children and the influence of current peer aggression on endorsements of child punishment. Implications of gender differences in predictors and directions for future research are discussed.

CHAPTER 10 – The Fourth Year

 The main objective of this course is to introduce the student to the works of Greeks and Romans in order to broaden his knowledge and to allow him to compare between their works and the works of the Modern Age.  After finishing this course, the student is supposed to have grasped fully what is meant by myth as one of the basic elements that constitute classical works in general.  At the end of this course the student gets a general idea about the ancient eras of history and how the idea of myth has influnced many of the works of that age.