Behavior modification and the brat syndrome.

DESCRIBES A PROGRAM OF BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION TO TRAIN A MOTHER TO CONTROL HER 81/2-YR-OLD EMOTIONALLY DISTURBED BOY WHO WAS A SEVERE DISCIPLINARY PROBLEM. TRAINING WAS BASED ON LEARNING PRINCIPLES, AND BEHAVIORAL FEEDBACK TO THE MOTHER WAS PROVIDED VIA CLOSED-CIRCUIT TV. MOTHER-SON INTERACTIONS WERE VIDEOTAPED AS THE MOTHER PRACTICED STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS, AND THE INTERACTION TAPES WERE VIEWED BY THE MOTHER FOR APPRAISAL OF SUCCESS. WITHIN A FEW WEEKS, THE BOY'S ABUSIVE BEHAVIOR WAS REDUCED, AND TREATMENT EFFECTS WERE STILL EVIDENT 23 WK. AFTER INITIATION OF THE PROGRAM. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved)