Behavior Modification in Black Populations, Softcover reprint of the original 1st ed. 1982 Psychosocial Issues and Empirical Findings

During the past decade, research and practice in the field of behavior modification have experienced phenomenal growth. Behavioral inter­ vention strategies that were considered strictly experimental a few years ago are now accepted therapeutic modalities, and behavioral method­ ology has been instrumental in creating an atmosphere conducive to the development of scientific rigor in the area of mental health. But behav­ ioral influence has not been limited to mental health. There has been considerable impact in education, industry, government, and general health care. Although behavior modification has made a significant impact on psychology in general, there has been a noticeable lack of theorizing and empirical research on issues primarily related to black populations. In fact, the black community in general, and black psychologists in partic­ ular, often have viewed behavioral approaches with suspicion. We hope that the material presented in this volume will serve to clarify what the behavioral approach is and what it is not and that it will help to foster an understanding of the behavioral approach. Moreover, empirical data demonstrating the effectiveness of behavioral procedures with black populations are presented. It is our hope that the material will provide some insight into how behavioral theory, methodology, and therapeutic strategies can be used to the benefit of black mental health in particular and the overall psychological health of the black community in general.

1: Behavior Modification and Black Populations.- Terminological Issues.- A Definition of Behavior Modification.- The Philosophical Doctrine of Behaviorism.- Models of Behavior Modification.- Operant (Instrumental) Conditioning.- Classical (Respondent) Conditioning.- Social Learning Theory.- Cognitive Behavior Modification.- Problems with the Image of Behavior Modification.- Behavior Modification and the Black Community.- Is Behavior Modification a Threat?.- Summary.- References.- 2: Psychosocial Aspects of the Therapeutic Process.- The Importance of Social and Cultural Experiences on the Development of Treatment Approaches and Models.- Understanding Behavior.- Concept of Normality.- Psychosocial Influences on Behavior.- Family Structure.- Cultural Value Systems.- Interactional Patterns.- Adaptive and Coping Strategies.- The Therapeutic Encounter.- Therapist and Patient Expectations of Treatment.- The Therapist Relationship.- Evaluation of Therapy Effectiveness.- Congruence of Change with Psychosocial Experience.- Future Considerations.- Training Issues and Delivery Systems.- Summary.- References.- 3: A Historical View of Blacks’ Distrust of Psychiatry.- The Origin of Black Distrust of Psychiatrists.- Attitudes Following the Civil War.- Personal Beliefs and Research Fraud.- Psychoanalytic Catch-22.- Training Considerations.- Other Reasons for Blacks’ Distrust of Psychiatry.- What and Which Are the Culture- Free Psychotherapies?.- Conclusion.- References.- 4: Psychiatric Symptoms in Black Patients.- Transcultural and Interethnic Variations in Symptom Patterns.- Are There Racial Differences in Symptom Patterns?.- False-Positive Symptoms of Schizophrenia in Black Patients.- Bleuler’s Criteria.- Schneider’s First Rank Symptoms.- Religious Delusions.- Paranoid Delusions.- Other Nonschizophrenic Hallucinations and Delusions.- Feighner Criteria.- Recognition of Depression in Black Patients.- Atypical Symptoms.- Symptomatic Alcoholism, Drug Abuse, and Sociopathy.- Diagnosis of Borderline Mental Retardation.- Effects of Symptom Differences on Diagnostic Accuracy.- Toward More Accurate Diagnoses in Blacks.- References.- 5: A Learned Helplessness Analysis of Problems Confronting the Black Community.- Theoretical and Empirical Bases.- Response-Outcome Independence.- Uncontrollability and Unpredictability.- Role of Attribution.- Helplessness and Other Models of Learning.- Models of Learning.- Response-Outcome Learning Space.- Interaction of Learning Models.- Learned Helplessness and the Black Experience.- Academic Achievement.- Employment and Living Conditions.- Political and Legal Systems.- The Defeated: Alcoholism and Drug Abuse.- Resultant Cognitive Deficits.- Resultant Emotional Deficits: Depression.- Behavioral Interventions for Helplessness.- Assessment.- Theoretical Bases of Treatment.- Reducing the Probability of Aversive Outcomes.- Reducing Desirability of Unobtainable Outcomes.- Changing the Perception of Uncontrollability.- Modification of Expectation to Fail.- Prevention of Learned Helplessness.- Conclusion.- References.- 6: The IQ Controversy and Academic Performance.- A Brief History of the IQ Controversy.- The Emergence of Intelligence Testing.- Group Intelligence Tests.- Recent Developments.- Within-Group Heritability Estimates.- Identical Twins Reared Apart.- Adoptive Studies.- Differences in Performance on Abstract “Culture-Free” Items versus Culture-Loaded Items.- Regression Estimates of Sibling IQ Scores.- Psychometric Analyses.- Heritability.- Studies of Academic Performance.- The Deficit and Conflict Models.- Characteristics of the Student.- Ethnic Learning Styles.- Achievement Motivation.- Characteristics of the Environment.- Desegregation and Black Student Achievement.- Characteristics of Significant Others.- Teacher Attitudes.- Teacher Race.- Characteristics of the Parent.- References.- 7: Academic Improvement through Behavioral Intervention.- Teacher Attention.- Token Reinforcement.- Self-Control.- Group Contingencies.- Punishment.- Time-Out from Reinforcement.- Response Cost.- Overcorrection.- Verbal Reprimands.- Teacher Training.- The Problem of Generalization.- Summary.- References.- 8: Rational Behavior Therapy.- A Brief History of RBT.- Basic Assumptions in RBT.- Three Basic Theoretical Constructs in RBT.- The ABC’s of New Human Emotions.- The Five Rules for Rational Thinking.- Rational Bibliotherapy.- Two Primary Self-Help Techniques in RBT.- Rational Self-Analysis (RSA).- Rational Emotive Imagery (REI).- Guidelines for Illiterate Patients in RBT.- Two-Year Follow-Up Data on RBT.- RBT and Black Patients.- Some Words of Caution.- References.- 9: Modification of Interpersonal Behavior.- Social Skills and Psychopathology.- Social Skills and Black Populations.- Cultural Issues.- Research on Cultural Differences.- Summary.- Future Suggestions and Precautions.- Assessment of Social Skills: A Black Perspective.- Self-Report Measures.- Behavioral Interviewing.- Behavioral Assessment.- Physiological Measurement.- Treatment of Social Skills for Black Populations.- Modeling.- Behavior Rehearsal.- Response Feedback.- Outcome Studies in Social Skills.- Generalization of Treatment.- Summary and Conclusions.- References.- 10: Substance Abuse.- The Problem of Alcohol Abuse.- A Behavioral Definition of Alcoholism.- Some Comments on Cultural Issues.- Review of the Literature.- Aversion Conditioning.- Covert Sensitization.- Controlled Drinking.- Community-Based Approaches.- Other Techniques.- Summary and Conclusions.- Research Directions for Alcoholism.- Other Drug Abuse.- Behavioral Approaches to Drug Abuse.- A Definition of Drug Abuse.- Review of the Literature.- Aversive Conditioning Procedures.- Covert Sensitization.- Covert Extinction.- Modeling.- Contingency Contracting.- Systematic Desensitization.- Methadone Maintenance.- Summary of Drug Abuse Treatment.- General Summary and Conclusions.- References.- 11: Sexual Disorders.- Identification of Sexual Disorders.- Prevalence of Sexual Disorders: A Special Focus on Blacks.- Sexual Dysfunctions.- General Causative Factors.- Historical, Cultural, and Socioeconomic Factors in Sexual Dysfunctions of Blacks.- General Treatment Approaches.- Male Sexual Dysfunctions.- Premature Ejaculation.- Impotence.- Ejaculatory Incompetence.- Female Sexual Dysfunctions.- Orgasmic Dysfunctions.- Vaginismus.- Dyspareunia.- Behavioral Intervention Strategies Uniquely Important in Sexual Dysfunction Counseling with Blacks.- Alleviation of the Couple’s Anxiety about Therapy and the Therapist.- Alleviation of the Client’s Embarrassment about Having a Sexual Problem.- Modification of Problematic Sexual Attitudes Based on Myths, Misconceptions, and Stereotypes.- Facilitation of the Female’s and Especially the Male’s Expression of Loving, Neutral, and Negative Feelings.- Consistent Boosting of the Male’s Self-Esteem Throughout Therapy.- Sexual Deviance.- Common Deviant Sexual Behavior in American Society.- Sexual Behavior Perceived as Deviant among Many Blacks.- Formulation of Sexual Deviance within the Behavioral Model.- Behavioral Treatment of Sexual Deviance.- Positive Aspects of Behavioral Intervention for Blacks with Sexual Disorders.- Considerations in Making Sex Therapy Available to Blacks.- Implications for Future Treatment and Research.- References.- 12: Stress Disorders.- Interaction of Physiological and Psychological Systems.- Psychological Reaction to Stress.- Psychosomatic Disorders.- Hypertension.- Peptic Ulcer.- Coronary Heart Disease.- Other Disorders.- Stress in Black Populations.- Behavioral Approaches to Stress.- Advantages of a Behavioral Interpretation.- Specific Treatment Interventions.- Hypertension.- Coronary Heart Disease.- Bronchial Asthma.- Tension and Migraine Headaches.- Summary.- References.- 13: Implementing Community Programs: The Black Perspective in Behavioral Community Psychology.- Current Definitions of Community Psychology.- Behavior Modification and Community Mental Health.- Tertiary Prevention.- Secondary Prevention.- Primary Prevention.- Behavior Modification and Black Communities.- The Black Perspective in Mental Health.- Mental Health Manpower in Black Communities: Recommendations for Training.- Conclusion.- References.