EFFECTS OF ADULT SOCIAL REINFORCEMENT ON CHILD BEHAVIOR.

Abstract

In a recent issue of this Journal, Horowitz (1963) reviewed the literature concerning social reinforcement effects on child behavior. Laboratory findings concerning those factors determining reinforcer effectiveness were summarized. Now, three research workers at the University of Washington present the results of their recent and provocative work demonstrating the effectiveness of carefully worked-out contingencies of adult attention in modifying certain problem behaviors of children within the nursery school itself. There are unmistakable and important implications in this research for nursery school practice even though the authors prudently point to the care needed in the nursery school setting to bring childrens' behavior under the control of social reinforcement. These efforts are also preliminary, but the painstaking persistence of the Washington researchers reaffirms belief in the infinite modifiability of behavior and the potential of the nursery school teacher in this endeavor.