Relative efficacy of modeling, shaping, and the combined procedures for modification of social withdrawal.

Thirty-three social isolates were selected from four nursery school populations according to teacher ratings and behavioral samples obtained by trained Os. In a 2 X 2 factorial design, half of the children viewed a 23-min. modeling film depicting appropriate social behavior, while the other half viewed a control film. Half of the subjects in each film condition then received social reinforcement contingent upon the performance of peer interaction behaviors. Modeling was shown to be a more rapid modification procedure than was shaping, and the interaction levels produced through modeling, with or without the addition of shaping, were more stable over tune. In the follow-up assessments, modeling 5s remained at the level of nonisolates, while shaping and control 5s returned to isolate level.