Developing undergraduates' skills in behavioral interventions

Abstract

This is a description of a training program for, and a series of studies conducted by, university undergraduates intending to intern in a mental health facility. The behaviorally oriented program provided training experiences in both clinical and community psychology. The more traditional clinical components involved each student's identifying a personal bothersome behavior and, after collecting baseline data, implementing an intervention. The course's community component involved designing a project within an organization or community. Illustrative projects included attempts to set up a no-smoking section in a cafeteria, to prompt university professors to turn off lights after class, to ensure that only handicapped drivers used parking facilities designed for them, to increase church attendance, and to ensure that customers selected appropriate medication at pharmacies. Issues involved in, and barriers to, training undergraduates in behavioral community approaches are discussed.