Cognitive behavior modification

Cognitive behavior modification

594 BOOK REVIEWS OAKLAND, THOMAS, & PHILLIPS,BEEMAN N. (Eds.), Assessing Minority Group Children. New York: Behavioral Publications, 1973, $9.95. Th...

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594

BOOK REVIEWS

OAKLAND, THOMAS, & PHILLIPS,BEEMAN N. (Eds.), Assessing Minority Group Children. New York: Behavioral Publications, 1973, $9.95. This is a hard cover edition of the Journal of School Psychology, 1973, 11, 291-413. While the contents are certainly valuable, it is disquieting to see the publishers of this journal put hard covers on a single issue and then mark up the price in this fashion. Articles cover the spectrum of testing, social and cultural issues, and special problems pertaining to Mexican-American children, as well as blacks. There is a nice paper by Thomas Oakland on the assessment of minority group children which objectively highlights some of the more focal concerns in this highly charged area. BROt3KWAY, BARBARA STEPHENS, Training in Child Management: A Family Approach. Dubuque, IA: Kendall/Hunt Publishing Co., 1974. vii + 88 Pp. $3.00. As the subtitle indicates, this is essentially a "prevention-oriented model of training in child management." It is thoughtfully conceived and executed and, as the author correctly warns, those who use this manual for training purposes should be certain that they possess a working knowledge of both learning theory and child development. The manual is geared towards the attainment of practical efficiency over a training period which consists of 10 weekly sessions. Groups of families can be trained together, and each session is divided into segments: didactic, role playing, and home management. Because of the heavy emphasis on role playing--requiring at least one "parent" and one "child"----two trainees should be present at each session, if at all possible. Evaluation measures are systematically built into the program.

FOSTER, CAROL, Developing Self-Control. Kalamazoo, MI: Behaviordelia, 1974. viii + 135 Pp. $4.25. The author is Director of Program Development at Project MORE (Mediated Operational Research in Education) and on the executive staff of Camelot Behavioral Systems. This is a programmed text for students, technicians, and would-be practitioners in behavior modification who have virtually no previous knowledge in the field----or such is the intent of the author. Unfortunately, the final product is incredibly naive and serves primarily to perpetuate the (in this instance not incorrect) image of the simplistic behavior therapist.

MEICHENBAUM,DONALD,Cognitive Behavior Modification. Morristown, NJ: General Learning Press, 1974.20 Pp. $0.95. As one might surely expect from the pen of Donald Meichenbaum, this module is a minor masterpiece of clarity, precision and accurate coverage of an important area at the introductory level. Geared towards the undergraduate student, the reader is taken very briefly but squarely through cognitive variables in stress reactions--with clinical exa m p l e s - , semantic (cognitive) therapies of the RET variety, cognitive behavior change--in particular covert techniques----and the elements of skills-oriented therapy. The contents of this little pamphlet, plus its bibliography, offer an enticing first step towards further study in this burgeoning new stage of behavior therapy. McKEE, JOHN, Applied Behavior Analysis and the Imprisoned Adult Felon. Project 1: The Cellblock Token Economy. Publ. No. 307 viii + 131 Pp. $5.00 (Available from: Rehabilitation Research Foundation, P.O. Box 3587, Montgomery, AL). This is one of the first major reports of the Experimental Manpower Laboratory for Corrections' three-year (1970-1973) token economy project with adult male felons at the