In this study of the modification of anxiety-related disruptive behavior in dental treatment, matched groups of inner-city children attending a pedodontic clinic were shown a videotaped demonstration of a 4-year-old black child undergoing a dental restorative procedure or were given an unrelated drawing task before dental treatment. Children who viewed the videotape demonstration of a peer model coping with dental procedures showed significantly fewer fear-related disruptive behaviors during restoration of lesions. Observations of children's anxiety levels made by dentists and independent observers validated the effectiveness of viewing the videotaped demonstration. No significant correlation was found between the children's reports of their anxiety and their behavior during dental treatment.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				R. L. Harwood and R. P. Weissberg The Potential of Video in the Promotion of Social Competence in Children and Adolescents The Journal of Early Adolescence, September 1, 1987; 7(3): 345 - 363. [Abstract]

				R. L. Blount and T. F. Stokes Contingent Public Posting of Photographs to Reinforce Dental Hygiene: Promoting Effective Toothbrushing by Elementary School Children Behav Modif, January 1, 1984; 8(1): 79 - 92. [Abstract]

				J. A. Williams, M. K. Hurst, and T. F. Stokes Peer Observation in Decreasing Uncooperative Behavior in Young Dental Patients Behav Modif, April 1, 1983; 7(2): 225 - 242. [Abstract]