ABSTRACT
Behavior modification was born in the mid-1960s. The first recipients of this new form of psychological treatment were children with autism and adults with mental retardation or schizophrenia (i.e., individuals with serious disorders). More successful outcomes with these individuals were shown than had previously been obtained. It soon became apparent that the procedures of this new field could be applied by mediators of treatment other than professionals. Thus, for example, psychiatric staff at mental institutions and teachers were taught to apply these novel treatment strategies. It then became apparent that parents could also be the mediators of behavior change with their children. Thus, parent training soon became a major subfield within behavior modification.
