Using Parents as Contingency Managers

Abstract
Parents were instructed how to eliminate the disturbing behaviors of their 2 children during the dinner meal. Two stages were used. The first was a combination of extinction and avoidance procedures to reduce the noisy responses by the children. The second was a fading technique to adjust the food preferences of the children. The program was carried out entirely by the parents; the children were never seen by E. The target behaviors were modified after 20 sessions under the two contingencies. Problems encountered while instructing the parents in behavioral techniques are discussed.