Behavior Modification in Black Populations: Psychosocial Issues and Empirical Findings

During the past decade, research and practice in the field of behavior modification have experienced phenomenal growth. Behavioral inter- vention strategies that were considered strictly experimental a few years ago are now accepted therapeutic modalities, and behavioral method- ology has been instrumental in creating an atmosphere conducive to the development of scientific rigor in the area of mental health. But behav- ioral influence has not been limited to mental health. There has been considerable impact in education, industry, government, and general health care. Although behavior modification has made a significant impact on psychology in general, there has been a noticeable lack of theorizing and empirical research on issues primarily related to black populations. In fact, the black community in general, and black psychologists in partic- ular, often have viewed behavioral approaches with suspicion. We hope that the material presented in this volume will serve to clarify what the behavioral approach is and what it is not and that it will help to foster an understanding of the behavioral approach. Moreover, empirical data demonstrating the effectiveness of behavioral procedures with black populations are presented. It is our hope that the material will provide some insight into how behavioral theory, methodology, and therapeutic strategies can be used to the benefit of black mental health in particular and the overall psychological health of the black community in general.