ibutes to a negative self-image that eventuates in an amount of social withdrawal and negative self-labeling. Consequently, even the low level obesity in question deserves some form of attention that will eliminate it, a challenge more easily stated than accomplished--as every dieter knows. Behavior modification techniques work at least as well, however, as many other psychological and medical weight loss techniques (Stunkard, 1982).
The program described here is based on the Weight Watchers Diet, a program designed to last 8 to 12 weeks. The foods allow-able under the program, including daily menus, are determined in their entirety through the application of Weight Watchers prin-ciples. The goal of the behavioral techniques is to multiply the effectiveness of the standard dietary regime by instituting highly structured means of reinforcing abstinence and, more importantly, good eating habits.
The present program has two phases or components. First, forms of stimulus control must be instituted; stimulus control includes a self-monitoring procedure. Second, management of contingencies for eating and not eating are employed as a way of shaping the desired weight loss and positive eating behaviors.
The two components of the program will proceed together, for the most part, although the stimulus control and self-monitoring element will begin slightly earlier than the actual contingency management portion. The program is designed not merely as a diet for losing weight but as a technique for instilling new, positive eating habits on a permanent basis.
Stimulus control, another name for stimulus discrimination, is an application of conditioning principles to the problem of habit change. If an individual responds in one way when a stimulus is present and in another way when it is absent, that stimulus "controls" his or her behavior (Rachlin, 1978). It is possible to control the environment in certain ways to reduce the probabilit...