Difficulties in the use of behavioral techniques by parents in changing child behavior: guides to success.

Abstract

This paper presents 4 cases in which highly co-operative parents were trained to use behavioral techniques to rectify their children's difficulties. In all of these, serious resistances and difficulties were encountered. In 2 cases, the mothers were successfully trained to use a differential attention procedure in the clinic. Both, however, could not apply this training in the home. A simple disciplinary technique, sitting in the bathroom for misbehavior, was substituted in both cases. This was correctly used in one. However, the father in the second terminated the program because of an extreme self-perceived nonpunitive role. In a 3rd case, the differential attention procedure failed because it apparently required a higher level of interaction with the child than was typical for the parent's reserved lifestyle. Substitution of a simple punishment procedure was immediately effective. In the 4th, home visits made clear the mother's nearly complete inability to stand up to her son's resistances to her commands. A simple behavioral program was developed and implemented at home under the direct scrutiny of a clinic staff member. This developed the necessary confidence in the mother to extend the program independently. These “difficulties” are discussed to emphasize some of the necessary conditions for successful behavioral programs using parents.