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PubMed1977

What types of sex-role behavior should behavior modifiers promote?

Rekers and Lovaas (1974) reported a study using reinforcement procedures aimed at modifying the behavior of a 5-yr-old who engaged in cross-gender behavior. The use of traditional sex-role concepts in forming target behaviors is criticized and androgynous behavior is suggested as an empirically based alternative. The pathological nature of the behavior that the study was designed to prevent is also questioned, as is the ability to predict sex-role behavior from a 5-yr-old child's current behavior. These issues are raised in the context of the more general question, whom should the therapist serve?

Adaptation, Psychological↗

PubMed2002

Identification of environmental determinants of behavior disorders through functional analysis of precursor behaviors.

Experimental analysis procedures have been shown to be effective means for identifying the environmental determinants of problem behaviors. A potential limitation of these procedures is that it is necessary to produce and document patterns in the occurrence of the problem behavior during the assessment. In the case of severe behavior disorders, this may place the participant or therapist at such risk as to preclude the analysis. The current study arranged experimental analysis contingencies for precursor behaviors that had been observed to reliably precede the occurrence of problem behaviors targeted for reduction. For each of the 4 participants, it was possible to infer the maintaining variables for problem behaviors based on the outcomes of precursor analysis. These results suggest that the current procedures represent a promising alternative method for reducing risk during functional analysis of problem behaviors.

Adult↗

PubMed1998

HIV risk behavioral surveillance: a methodology for monitoring behavioral trends.

OBJECTIVE: This article summarizes issues and recommendations for conducting HIV risk behavioral surveillance surveys (BSS) based on experiences from ten BSS projects in eight countries in Asia and Africa. BACKGROUND: BSS consists of systematic and repeated cross-sectional surveys of HIV and sexually transmitted disease-related behaviors, with other knowledge and attitudinal variables added where appropriate. Its major purpose and utility is in detecting trends among selected vulnerable and high-risk population groups whose behavioral change can have the most impact on the epidemic. BSS is also useful for tracking trends in behaviors over time in regions exposed to HIV prevention activities, as a contributing component to the comprehensive monitoring and evaluation of interventions. RECOMMENDATIONS: (i) implement BSS as an essential adjunct to HIV/STD epidemiological surveillance; (ii) use BSS for evaluation purposes in combination with process data and triangulate results with qualitative research; (iii) choose sentinel groups based on epidemiological considerations, evaluation and monitoring needs, representative sampling frames, and political and cultural considerations; (iv) maintain 1-year intervals between survey waves for most groups in order to provide yearly updates on behavioral trends for programmatic adjustments; (v) use internationally standardized indicators and question wording; (vi) maintain strict quality control standards to enhance data validity and reliability; and (vii) develop a clear dissemination strategy during BSS design to increase the likelihood of utilization of BSS results. CONCLUSION: BSS represents a cost-effective way to determine whether programmatic behavioral targets and goals are being met, to identify persisting risk behaviors over time, and to indicate whether new intervention approaches are necessary.

Africa↗

PubMed2001

The impact of behavior-specific and behavior-nonspecific reinforcement on child compliance to mother directives.

Theories of child socialization differ with regard to the influence they attribute to behavior-specific reinforcement contingencies versus behavior-nonspecific reinforcement contingencies (i.e. social responsiveness). The present research investigated, at a within-individual level, the relationship between both types of reinforcement and child compliance with maternal directives. Behavior-specific reinforcement was defined as the history of reinforcement obtained by children for prior episodes of compliance and noncompliance to mother directives. Behavior-nonspecific reinforcement was defined as the history of reinforcement obtained by children for prosocial and aversive behaviors unrelated to mother directives. It was hypothesized that both reinforcement processes would be related to child responses to subsequent mother directives. The findings support these hypotheses. The discussion addresses caretaker social responsiveness as an intervention target of behavioral family therapy.

Behavior Therapy↗

PubMed1996

Changing AIDS risk behavior: effects of an intervention emphasizing AIDS risk reduction information, motivation, and behavioral skills in a college student population.

This research used the Information-Motivation-Behavioral Skills (IMB) model of AIDS risk behavior change (J. D. Fisher & Fisher, 1992a) to reduce AIDS risk behavior in a college student population. College students received an IMB model-based intervention that addressed AIDS risk reduction information, motivation, and behavioral skills deficits that had been empirically identified in this population, or were assigned to a no-treatment control condition. At a 1-month follow-up, results confirmed that the intervention resulted in increases in AIDS risk reduction information, motivation, and behavioral skills, as well as significant increases in condom accessibility, safer sex negotiations, and condom use during sexual intercourse. At a long-term follow-up, the intervention again resulted in significant increases in AIDS preventive behaviors.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

PubMed2001

Lifestyle high-risk behaviors and demographics may predict the level of participation in sun-protection behaviors and skin cancer primary prevention in the United States: results of the 1998 National Health Interview Survey.

BACKGROUND: Sun and ultraviolet radiation exposure are major risk factors for skin cancer, and sun-protective behaviors and skin cancer examinations are means of primary prevention of skin cancer. The objective of this study was to evaluate the extent to which demographics and other high-risk behaviors may predict the reported level of participation in sun-protection behaviors and skin cancer primary prevention in the United States adult population. METHODS: Data on reported sun-protection behaviors and skin cancer examinations were obtained from surveys completed by adults in the 1998 National Health Interview Survey. Univariate and multivariate data analyses were performed using specialized statistics software. RESULTS: For the United States adult population surveyed (n = 32,440), only 21% of those surveyed indicated that they had ever had a skin cancer examination, and, of those, only 45% indicated that the skin cancer examination was within the past year. For sun-protective behaviors, only 23%, 27%, and 30% of those surveyed reported that they were very likely to wear protective clothing, stay in the shade, and use sunscreen, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The likelihood of participation in sun-protective behaviors and skin cancer prevention was related to a number of demographic characteristics and high-risk behaviors, including currently smoking cigarettes and wearing seatbelts.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1991

Thyrotropin-releasing hormone facilitates display of reproductive behavior and locomotor behavior in an amphibian.

In the amphibian brain, thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) is present in many regions outside the hypothalamus. The functions of this extrahypothalamic TRH however are unknown. We sought to determine whether TRH or its metabolites altered reproductive behaviors (amplectic clasping behavior) or locomotor behaviors of the male South African clawed frog, Xenopus laevis. TRH-injected (100 micrograms; dorsal lymph sac injection) male Xenopus displayed significantly fewer amplectic clasp attempts and longer clasp durations than saline-injected controls. The TRH metabolites, TRH acid and histidylproline diketopiperazine, similarly altered clasping behavior. Several hormones released by TRH, including thyroid-stimulating hormone, melanocyte-stimulating hormone, prolactin, and dopamine, had no significant effect on clasp frequency or duration. Locomotor activity in Xenopus males was increased significantly after 15 min following TRH injection (150 micrograms); this effect persisted for at least 1 hr. The metabolites did not alter locomotion. These studies indicate that TRH can facilitate the display of two behaviors in the South African clawed frog. Effects of TRH on locomotor and reproductive behaviors thus appear in several vertebrate classes. These behavioral actions of TRH likely occur through different mechanisms or at different sites.

Animals↗

PubMed1996

Appetitive sexual behavior in male rats: 1. The role of olfaction in level-changing behavior.

Level-changing behavior is a form of anticipatory behavior of a male rat, when tested in a bilevel testbox. The male explores the testcage prior to introduction of a female. The female is introduced after 5 min. The number of level changes displayed by the male in this period reflects appetitive aspects of sexual behavior and it was suggested that analysis of this level-changing behavior may function as assessment of sexual motivation. In this study the increase of anticipatory level changes over repeated weekly tests was dependent upon (sexual) olfactory stimulation. The number of anticipatory level changes was reliably reduced by administration of the opioid antagonist naloxone, suggesting that endogenous opioids facilitate this behavior. These results suggest that the increase of anticipatory level changes over repeated tests is a response to olfactory stimuli and reflects appetitive aspects of sexual behavior, which are stimulated by endogenous opioids. These results are in accordance with the concept that analysis of anticipatory level-changing behavior can be used to assess sexual motivation.

Animals↗

PubMed1988

Methoxychlor induces estrogen-like alterations of behavior and the reproductive tract in the female rat and hamster: effects on sex behavior, running wheel activity, and uterine morphology.

The current investigation was designed to determine if the pesticide methoxychlor (M) mimicked the effects of estrogen in the brain and on behavior. Running wheel activity (RWA) and sex behaviors were evaluated in this study because the role of estrogen in the regulation of these behaviors has been thoroughly established. M exposure at 400 mg/kg/day (90% pure) induced high levels of acyclic RWA and persistent vaginal estrus in the female rats. Following ovariectomy (ovx), RWA declined precipitously in controls but remained at high levels in M-treated-ovx females. M also produced estrogen-like alterations of the uterine endometrial epithelium, the ovary, and growth after ovx. In another study, ovx female rats were dosed with M at 200 mg/kg/day and then with progesterone (P). P acts as an antiestrogen and specifically suppresses estrogen-induced RWA. P blocks the synthesis of estrogen receptors in the CNS and reproductive tract but does not lower RWA induced by nonestrogenic mechanisms. After 14 days of M administration RWA was increased fourfold over the ovx-oil-treated females. Subsequently, P injections reduced RWA levels far below those seen when the ovx-M-treated rats were injected with oil. The P-induced decline represents a 95% inhibition of the M-induced increase in RWA. Subsequently, M-treated-ovx rats and hamsters were injected with P and tested for their ability to display reproductive behaviors when paired with a stud male. Female sexual behaviors are induced by the administration of estrogen followed by progesterone. In this study the M-treated females displayed reproductive behaviors, in contrast to the oil-treated rats and hamsters. The observation that the high levels of RWA induced by methoxychlor treatment in ovx rats can be suppressed by concurrent progesterone injections demonstrates that the increase in RWA is due to the estrogenic effects of methoxychlor on the CNS. The fact that methoxychlor, followed by P injections, induces behavioral estrus in the rat and hamster extends this estrogenicity to other areas in the CNS.

Animals↗

PubMed1996

Comparison of the effects of prototypical behavioral stimulants on locomotor activity and rotational behavior in rats.

The present study was performed to characterize on rotational behavior the dose- and time-effect relationship of four prototypical behavioral stimulants that interact with dopamine systems via different mechanisms of action. Drug effects on rotational behavior was compared with effects on locomotor activity. The drugs examined were apomorphine (0.03-1.0 mg/kg), d-amphetamine (0.1-3.0 mg/kg), cocaine (3.0-56 mg/kg), and caffeine (10-100 mg/kg). SKF-38393 (0.3-10 mg/kg), a dopamine receptor agonist that has only modest effects on locomotor activity, was tested as a comparison. In rats with unilateral 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-induced lesions of the nigrostriatal tract, d-amphetamine and cocaine dose dependently increased both the duration and the maximum number of turns/10 min, whereas apomorphine and caffeine increased only the duration of turning. There was a significant correlation of the effects of the four drugs on rotational behavior with effects on locomotor activity, but effects across drugs were not identical. Dose-response curves revealed potency differences among drugs in their effects on the two behaviors (e.g., apomorphine stimulated rotational behavior at a lower dose than it stimulated locomotor activity, whereas the converse was true with caffeine). Different mechanisms of action of these drugs might account for the differences in their effects on these behaviors.

2,3,4,5-Tetrahydro-7,8-dihydroxy-1-phenyl-1H-3-ben↗

PubMed1996

Aids, violence and behavioral coding: information theory, risk behavior and dynamic process on core-group sociogeographic networks.

Elsewhere we have presented a traveling-wave analysis of HIV transmission on a tightly self-interactive, geographically-focused core group social network (Wallace R. Soc. Sci. Med. 32, 847, 1991; Soc. Sci. Med. 33, 1155, 1991; Environ. Plan. A. 26, 767, 1994; Wallace R. and Fullilove M. Environ. Plan. A. 23, 1701 1991). Here we reanalyze the problem in probability space and recover a close analog of the Shannon Coding Theorem of information theory. Subsequent direct application of information-theoretic methods provides striking insight regarding the spread of disease along the sociogeographic networks of marginalized subgroups, suggesting that 'risk behaviors' for infection may constitute essential components of a behavioral code for the transmission of information within the noisy channel of a marginalized community's social networks. The code's form, including the incorporation of risk behaviors, arises as a direct consequence of the external oppressive forces which structure marginalization. This viewpoint suggests an explanation of the sometime-observed rapid transmission of both infection and of control strategies for infection along the same network, but suggests further that if risk behaviors are indeed parts of a behavioral code for the transmission of group norms, statements of individual worth or resource sharing, then high rates of relapse are inevitable, given the persistence of the external oppression which gives those behaviors symbolic value. We suggest that violent acts in particular may emerge as key behavioral symbols for 'sending a message' in socially disorganized communities, implying that school-based or other individual-oriented harm reduction strategies for violence prevention, in the absence of a comprehensive, multifactorial reform program, cannot significantly reverse the effects of continuing economic and social constraints or of public policies of planned shrinkage and benign neglect, factors primarily responsible for the disorganization of urban minority communities within the United States.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Changes of auditory-evoked potentials in response to behaviorally meaningful tones induced by acute ethanol intake in altricial nestlings at the stage of formation of natural behavior.

Acute ethanol's influence on field L auditory-evoked potentials (AEP) was studied in 4-7-days-old altricial nestlings of the pied flycatcher. Nestlings were presented with behaviorally meaningful tone pips (2.0 and 5.0 kHz) and control tone pips (3.0 kHz). Ethanol ingestion was found to reduce the N1 amplitude and maturity index (MI) of the AEP in response to "behavioral" but not to control frequencies. This effect was first observed on day 5, when the nestlings' behavior became more complex (their eyes opened and defence behavior appeared), and when previously formed feeding behavior was undergoing modifications. The MI increase during the early postembryonic ontogeny was probably due to the selective involvement of neurons with newly formed behavioral specializations into the subserving of new behavioral patterns, while the decrease of the MI under alcohol was due to the depression of activity in these neurons.

Animals↗

PubMed1999

Trends in safe driving behaviors and in relation to trends in health maintenance behaviors in the USA: 1985-1995.

Specific health and safe driving behaviors of the American adult population during the period 1985-1995, were examined for trends and for consistencies in observing them. The data base consisted of the results of annual surveys conducted on representative samples of 1250 people of the US adult population. Two indices were developed: a Health Index (HI) and a Safety Index (SI). The Health Index reflects the level of practice of six health and disease preventing behaviors (in order of decreasing importance: not smoking, frequent exercises, avoiding fat foods, having an annual blood pressure test, avoiding high-cholesterol foods, and having an annual dental exam). The Safety Index reflects the level of practice of three safe driving behaviors (in order of decreasing importance: wearing safety belts, avoiding drinking and driving, and observing the speed limit). Only a weak association was found among the individual safe driving behaviors, among the individual health maintenance behaviors, and between the two sets of behaviors. Over the 11-year study period the change in the Health Index has been practically and statistically insignificant, whereas the change in the Safety Index was both statistically and practically significant. The small improvement in the Safety Index actually masked a complex pattern of changes in safe driving habits. The three component Safety Index behaviors did not change in the same manner over the 11-year period. The greatest and most consistent increase was in the use of safety belts, with the reported percent who use it all the time increasing from 41.5% in 1985 to 74.1% in 1995 (an increase of 80%). There was also a consistent positive trend in refraining from drinking and driving, but the overall improvement was less dramatic than that reported for use of safety belts: from 71.6% reporting they never drink and drive in 1985 to 79.1% in 1995 (an increase of 10%). Still, it is noteworthy that by 1995 nearly 80% of the people reported they never drink and drive. Finally, obeying the speed limit did not improve over the 11-year period.

Accidents, Traffic↗

PubMed1998

Voles and vasopressin: a review of molecular, cellular, and behavioral studies of pair bonding and paternal behaviors.

Several lines of evidence have implicated the neurohypophyseal peptide, vasopressin (VP), in the mediation of complex social behaviors including affiliation, aggression, juvenile recognition and parental behavior. Recent studies in microtine rodents using cellular, molecular and behavioral approaches provide additional evidence suggesting a role for VP in the formation of pair bonding and male parental care. Monogamous and promiscuous voles differ in social behaviors such as mating-induced pair bonding, selective aggression, and male parental care. Comparative studies have demonstrated that they also differ in dynamics of VP synthesis and release associated with reproduction, in the distribution pattern and regional quantity of VP receptors, and in the promoter sequence of the V1a receptor gene. In monogamous prairie voles, (Microtus ochrogaster), brain administration of VP induces pair bonding and male parental care whereas administration of the VP antagonist diminishes these behaviors. Together, these data suggest that VP is involved in the regulation of social behaviors in monogamous voles and differences in the brain VP system may underlie species differences in behavior and life strategy in voles.

Animals↗

PubMed2001

Mouse defensive behaviors: pharmacological and behavioral assays for anxiety and panic.

The natural defensive behaviors of laboratory mice have been evaluated in both seminatural and highly structured situations; and characterized in terms of eliciting stimuli, response to pharmacological agents, behavior patterns, and outcome or effect on the social and physical environment. The defense patterns of laboratory mice and rats are generally similar, but mice show risk assessment on initial exposure to highly threatening stimuli while rats do not, while rats display alarm vocalizations, missing in mice. Quantitative differences in freezing and flight for laboratory mice and rats appear to largely reflect domestication effects, with wild mice and rats more similar to each other. This nexus of detailed within-species and comparative data on defense patterns makes it possible to reliably elicit specific defenses in mice or rats in an experimental context, providing well-validated assays of the natural defensive behaviors themselves, as opposed to 'models' of defense. The mouse--rat comparisons indicate considerable cross-species generality for these defense patterns, as does a scattered but considerable literature on other mammalian species, generally involving field studies and typically focusing on those aspects of defensive behavior that are visible at a distance, such as vigilance, or flight. Although potential homologies between normal mouse and human defense systems should ideally involve all four pattern components (stimulus, organismic factors, response characteristics, outcome), predictive validity in terms of response to drugs active against specific defensive psychopathology is the most extensively investigated of these. Flight, as measured in the Mouse Defense Test Battery shows a consistently appropriate response to panicolytic, panicogenic, and panic-neutral drugs, while some other predictive 'panic models' (dPAG-stimulation; DMH-inhibition; possibly conditioned suppression of drinking paradigms) also elicit and (indirectly) measure behaviors potentially related to flight. Models unrelated to flight (e.g. ultrasonic vocalization to conditioned stimuli); or for which flight elements may a relatively minor contributor to the behavior measured (Elevated T-maze) are less predictive of panicolytic or panicogenic action. These findings indicate that natural defensive behaviors provide a well-characterized pattern for analysis of effects of genetic or other physiological manipulations in the mouse, and may also serve as a model for analysis of defense-related human psychopathology.

Animals↗

PubMed1997

Rapid decay of cocaine-induced behavioral sensitization of locomotor behavior.

Sprague Dawley rats received three daily intraperitoneal (i.p.) injections of saline or 15 mg/kg cocaine. Following an interval of 2, 5 or 8 days, the behavioral response of separate groups of rats to a challenge injection of cocaine (15 mg/kg) was tested in an open field. After repeated cocaine (15 mg/kg) injection, movement in both the vertical and horizontal plane was increased in cocaine-treated rats 2, but not 5 or 8, days after treatment as compared to saline-treated subjects. In addition, behavioral ratings along an ordinal scale designed to reflect increases in behavioral activation were increased in cocaine-treated rats 2, but not 5 or 8, days after treatment. These results stand in contrast to other reports demonstrating long-lasting neural and behavioral changes after similar treatment regimens. Taken together, the results suggest that a treatment regimen of 15 mg/kg per day of cocaine for 3 days produces behavioral sensitization of locomotor behavior; however, this cocaine-induced behavioral sensitization does not persist beyond a few (< 5) days after repeated cocaine treatment, using the current experimental parameters.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The Aberrant Behavior Checklist and the Behavior Problems Inventory: convergent and divergent validity.

This study was designed to compare and cross-validate two rating instruments [the Aberrant Behavior Checklist (ABC) and the Behavior Problems Inventory (BPI)] for assessing maladaptive behavior. The BPI assesses three types of behavior problems: Self-Injurious Behavior (SIB), Stereotyped Behavior and Aggressive/Destructive Behavior. The ABC assesses five domains including these three. We collected data on 226 adults, mostly with severe or profound mental retardation, from a medium-sized developmental center. Individuals with elevated BPI scores generally had higher ABC scores; however, the extent of covariation differed across subscales. Similarly, multiple regression analyses showed that BPI subscales significantly but selectively predicted ABC subscale scores. Measures of differential diagnostic value (positive and negative predictive power, sensitivity, specificity and overall correct diagnostic efficiency) confirmed the anticipated partial overlap between instruments. Both instruments were used to rate participants with and without a Diagnosis of Stereotyped Movement Disorder. BPI, SIB and Stereotypy subscale composite had stronger positive predictive power than the ABC Stereotypy scale, while the ABC had higher negative predictive power and greater overall diagnostic efficiency. Thus, the ABC and the BPI cross-validated one another where expected, and they diverged for subscales thought to have little relationship.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

PubMedDate not supplied

An evaluation of functional variables affecting severe problem behaviors in adults with mental retardation by using the Questions about Behavioral Function Scale (QABF).

We examined the functions of five severe problem behaviors in a sample of 417 institutionalized persons with mental retardation by using the Questions About Behavior Function Scale. The behaviors we examined included self-injurious behavior, aggression, stereotypies, pica, and rumination. The most common function for all behaviors except aggression was nonsocial. Aggression, however, was maintained by external environmental contingencies. Particular items of the Questions About Behavior Function Scale were identified as more frequently occurring and critical in ascertaining behavioral function. Implications of these results for developing more effective treatment plans are discussed.

Adult↗