NCJ Number
7350
Date Published
1964
Length
133 pages
Annotation
VERBAL AND NON VERBAL BEHAVIORS COMMON AMONG DELINQUENT ADOLESCENTS WERE SUSCEPTIBLE TO INFLUENCE BY OPERANT CONDITIONING PROCEDURES.
Abstract
THE PURPOSE OF THE STUDY WAS TO FORMULATE AND TEST PRINCIPLES, WHICH SEEMED IMPLICIT IN DEVELOPING A BEHAVIORAL CHANGE PROGRAM FOR ADOLESCENT DELINQUENTS BASED ON AN EXPERIMENTER - SUBJECT RELATIONSHIP. THE STUDY INTENDED TO INVESTIGATE THE PRACTICALITY OF USING VOLUNTEER EXPERIMENTERS AND OF TESTING RESULTS OF OPERANT CONDITIONING PROCEDURES IN NATURAL SETTINGS. TWO EXPERIMENTAL GROUPS AND A CONTROL GROUP WERE OBSERVED IN A RESTAURANT AND LABORATORY SITUATION PRIOR TO AND FOLLOWING A PERIOD OF EMPLOYMENT. CONTRARY TO EXPECTATIONS, CHANGES WERE GENERALLY FOUND TO BE LIMITED TO THE PARTICULAR CONDITIONED BEHAVIOR. SUBJECTS WHO SHOWED A SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT IN PROMPTNESS DID NOT SHOW IMPROVEMENT IN SOCIAL BEHAVIORS. LACK OF GENERALIZATION MIGHT BE ATTRIBUTED TO THE FACT THAT SUBJECTS WERE ALWAYS INFORMED OF THE REASON THEY WERE RECEIVING A BONUS. A SURVEY OF OPERANT STUDIES OF HUMAN BEHAVIOR AND A CRITIQUE OF THE MENTAL HEALTH APPROACH TO DELINQUENCY ARE INCLUDED IN THIS WORK. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED) (BIBLIOGRAPHY)