SOCIAL LEARNING TECHNIQUES FOR PARENTS OF DIFFICULT CHILDREN (FROM FAMILIES TODAY: A RESEARCH SAMPLER ON FAMILIES AND CHILDREN, VOLUME II, P 879-896, 1979, EUNICE CORFMAN, ED. -- SEE NCJ-146059)

• NCJ Number: 146070
• Author(s): G R Patterson; S Prestwich
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 18 pages
• Grant Number(s): MH-15985
• Sponsoring Agency: National Institute of Mental Health
• Sale Source: Superintendent of Documents, GPO; National Institute of Justice/; NCJRS Photocopy Services
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

A treatment program was developed at the Oregon Social Learning Center that used social learning principles, particularly operant conditioning concepts, to help parents master child management skills.

Abstract

Families participating in the program were characterized by violence and aggression. The program was directed at helping parents teach children acceptable behavior. Behavior therapy emphasized the use of rewards and punishments to modify and discourage deviant behavior. The program focused on causes of maladaptive behavior and mothers' reactions to child violence and aggression. Parents or other key persons who interacted with children were taught child management skills using a programmed text on social learning-based child management techniques. Parents were also required to define, track, and record a series of deviant and/or prosocial behaviors. The Behavioral Coding System and the Parent Daily Report were used by parents and observers in the home setting to record children's behavior. Program organizers advocated the use of time-out rather than physical punishment to deal with unacceptable behavior. At the conclusion of the program, most participants felt that the entire family had changed for the better. 8 references