Thomas H. Ollendick

Social skills training for juvenile delinquents

Abstract Twenty-seven incarcerated juvenile delinquents matched on the number of previous offenses, age, WISC-R IQ, and locus of control were assigned to a Social Skills. Discussion or Control group. Social skills training consisted of instruction, feedback, modeling, behavior rehearsal, social reinforcement and graduated homework assignments. All subjects were assessed before and after treatment on a variety of self-report, role-play and behavioral measures. Analyses of variance for difference scores indicated that the Social Skills group improved significantly more than the Discussion and Control groups, which did not differ. Appropriate interpersonal skills were learned, state anxiety was reduced, internal locus of control was increased, and significant shifts in adjustment to the institutional program were evidenced for the Social Skills group.

Issues in toilet training normal children

The toilet training method described by Azrin and Foxx in Toilet Training in Less Than a Day was employed with five children whose mothers were supervised and five children whose mothers were not supervised. All children were between 20 and 26 months of age. Supervised mothers received pretreatment training as well as assistance during training, while nonsupervised mothers trained their children on the basis of their reading of the book. Training was more effective and the number of emotional side effects was less for both mothers and children in the supervised condition.

Overcorrection: An overview

This paper reviews and evaluates the utilization of Overcorrection in the treatment of self-stimulatory, self-injurious, and agressive-disruptive behavior. It also examines certain issues related to the characteristics of Overcorrection and its effectiveness. For maximal effectiveness, it is suggested that the procedure be topography specific, be applied immediately, be extended in duration, and be actively performed by the individual.

PERSONAL SPACE, SEX OF EXPERIMENTER, AND LOCUS OF CONTROL IN NORMAL AND DELINQUENT ADOLESCENTS

This study investigated the interrelationship of personal space, sex of experimenter, and locus of control in 28 delinquent and 28 normal adolescent males (13 to 17 yr. old). The personal space measure was the distance at which the subjective discomfort felt by the adolescent caused him to stop the approaching experimenter. The experimenter approached from the front, rear, left, and right side of the adolescent. Results indicated that: (a) these delinquents did not demand greater personal space than normals, (b) there was a significant increase in personal space from front to rear for both groups, (c) both groups allowed female experimenters to approach closer than male experimenters, and (d) while delinquents were more external than normals, this personality variable did not mediate personal space requirements. In general, delinquents were similar to normals on all personal space indices.

Effectiveness of Hand Overcorrection for Topographically Similar and Dissimilar Self-Stimulatory Behavior.

Abstract Response contingent hand overcorrection was used to reduce the frequency of self-stimulatory behaviors in four retarded adult males. For two of the subjects, the treated behaviors (hand shaking and nose touching) involved hand movements which were topographically similar to the hand overcorrection procedure. For the other two subjects, behaviors topographically dissimilar to the treatment procedure were treated (inappropriate laughing and head weaving). All four behaviors were decreased in frequency during treatment. However, the hand overcorrection procedure was more effective with the topographically similar behaviors.

Direct, observational, and generalization effects of social skills training with emotionally disturbed children

Four emotionally disturbed, hospitalized children between 9 and 11 years of age were treated for social skill deficits. Training was evaluated in a multiplebaseline design across subjects and included instructions, performance feedback, modeling, role playing, and social reinforcement. Furthermore, training was conducted in a group and utilized natural role-play situations. Initially, two children were trained while the other two observed training. This procedure was used to evaluate the effects of observational learning. Later, treatment conditions were reversed. Observational learning was of minimal benefit. The effects of direct social skills treatment, however, were immediate and generalized to untreated scenes and to behavior on the ward. Effects were maintained at a 15-week follow-up.

A comprehensive dining program for mentally retarded adults

Abstract Twenty-six types of behavior (e.g. uses fork in socially appropriate manner, chews food before swallowing) were treated in a course of independence training, using 80 institutionalized retarded adults (40 experimentals and 40 no-treatment controls). The 3-month long training phase incorporated a number of treatment components including in vivo modeling, peer social reinforcement, self-evaluation and monitoring; then a four-month follow-up. A group (i.e. experimentals and controls) by sex, by time, analysis of variance was computed with repeated measures on the last dimension (pre, post, follow-up measures = time). A significant difference was obtained between the experimentals and controls on post-test and follow-up

DISCREPANCIES BETWEEN VERBAL AND PERFORMANCE IQS AND SUBTEST SCATTER ON THE WISC-R FOR JUVENILE DELINQUENTS

The present study examined discrepancies in Verbal and Performance IQs and subtest scatter on the WISC-R for 121 male juvenile delinquents. While statistically significant Verbal-Performance discrepancies and subtest scatter were evidenced, these indices of scatter did not differ from normative data provided by Kaufman in 1976. It was concluded that the WISC-R may not be useful as a differential diagnostic indicator for juvenile delinquency but may be beneficial as a tool for making remedial prescriptive recommendations.

Differential effectiveness of muscular and cognitive relaxation as a function of locus of control

Abstract This study examined the differential effectiveness of muscular and cognitive relaxation as a function of locus of control. Eighteen internally oriented and 18 externally oriented females were randomly assigned to one or another of the relaxation conditions. As hypothesized, the cognitive relaxation procedure resulted in a greater decrement in heart rate and subjective distress for the internals, while muscular relaxation produced the greater decrement for the externals. Results underscored the utility of the client-treatment interactive model.

An Initial Investigation into the Parameters of Overcorrection

The aggressive-disruptive behaviors of hitting and crying were eliminated in two young children by an overcorrection procedure. The components of the procedure were examined for their relative effectiveness and the amount or intensity of the overcorrection training was explored.