| Abstract: | Reviews the book, The covert conditioning handbook by Joseph R. Cautela and Albert J. Kearney. Covert conditioning procedures were first developed by Joseph Cautela in the late 1960s. Now twenty years later, Cautela and coauthor Kearney have systematically organized the experimental and clinical literature on covert conditioning to provide an extensive review of its uses and effectiveness. The book includes explanations of the two most widely utilized covert conditioning procedures--covert positive reinforcement and covert sensitization--as well as the lesser known ones such as covert extinction, covert modeling, covert negative reinforcement, and covert response cost. In textbook format, the learning theory basis for each procedure is given, the clinical application is detailed, and relevant research findings are discussed. The second part of the book describes the use of covert conditioning procedures with different problem behaviors by providing case examples and by reviewing empirical evidence and case reports. The book is ideal for the beginning behavior therapist since the procedures are outlined clearly and with considerable detail. Drawing on their vast clinical experience with the methods, the authors discuss problems using the imagery-based techniques and the steps to ameliorate them. More experienced behavior therapists, while finding much of the material elementary, will glean some useful clinical tips and discover some innovative and more effective ways of using covert methods. Researchers will appreciate the careful analyses of 13 selected studies on covert conditioning, as well as the useful guidelines for interpreting and conducting research. A helpful feature of the book is an extensive bibliography (442 references) with a topical index that can be used to locate references on a particular procedure, target behavior, or type of article (case study, experimental, or theoretical). (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved) |
