Group therapy readiness using operant techniques with 'mental retardates

DOCUMENT RESUME EC 041 478 Ackerman, Marc J. Group Therapy Readiness Using Operant Techniaues with Mental Retardates. Georgia Univ., Athens. 72 11p.; Paper presented at the AERA Convention (Chicago, Illinois, April 7, 1972) MF-$0.65 HC-$3.29 *Behavior Change; *Exceptional Child Research; Group Therapy; *Mentally Handicapped; *Operant Conditioning; Social Adjustment; *Trainable Mentally Handicapped Following 4 weeks of unsuccessful conventional therapy, five trainable mentally retarded males (CA 7-12 years) were placed in a behavior modification group-therapy-readiness program (BMP). Immediate gratification, short range delayed gratification, and long range delayed gratification were used. Teachers were encouraged to continue the BMP in their classrooms. Desirable behavior was exhibited significantly more often (p less than .005) during the BMP than before. There was no significant difference between the BMP sessions and followup sessions. Extinction was avoided through the use of varied reinforcement schedules and cooperation of the teachers. Operant techniques successfully readied mental retardates for a group therapy setting. (Author)