My Resistance To Flossing Properly: Why I Don't Floss As Often As I Should

Table of Contents

Introduction
Before Thoughts
The Importance of Flossing
Flossing Illustration
Data for Personal Observation & Intervention.
List of Affective, Cognitive, Sensorimotor Behaviors
Week of Observation
Week of Observation & Intervention
Sample Questionnaire
Results of Questionnaire Tables
Frequency of Flossing Graph
Questionnaire Results
Flossing & Behavior Modification
Experiences In Gathering Information
Conclusion
Afterthoughts
Library Log-In Time
References

Introduction

This term paper is about my personal resistance to flossing properly.
I will explain my reasons for not flossing as often as I should and will
include affective, cognitive, and sensorimotor aspects in my views.
Because some sort of data was needed to make this paper more focused and readily understandable, I have used myself as a subject for flossing behavior.
One week was spent on observation, keeping in mind the affective, cognitive, and sensorimotor aspects. A second week was spent on observation and intervention. I tried to make it a point to floss everyday and stick to a daily
routine as much as possible. I wanted to find out if there were any major underlying reasons for changes in behavior, attitude, personal appearance, feelings, etc. Another method of collecting data that I looked in to was that of a questionnaire. I thought a questionnaire would be the perfect device for obtaining data without fear of revealing personal information as well as having any bias. I wanted people's honest information without putting them "on the spot" and making them feel uncomfortable.

Even though daily flossing is highly recommended, many people resist to flossing. We each have our routines of eating and grooming and our lives are filled with numerous activities. Because many Americans are "on-the-go", they
may not have the time to stop and think about what exactly is right for them. We may overlook important concepts and take things for granted, in this case--flossing. In this paper I will try to explain reasons why people neglect flossing. I will include the pros and cons of flossing and will also compare it with behavior modification.

Before Thoughts

When I first found out that a 20-page term paper was required for this class, many negative and disturbing thoughts crossed my mind. I thought to myself, "Is Dr. Jakobovits crazy or something?" Never in my entire college career was I given the pleasure of writing such an assignment. Nevertheless, I decided to stick with it. I thought this assignment would be good experience for me and would be challenging as well.
In the beginning of the semester, we were given the chance to see previous term papers from students who already took this course. I noticed that the topics were not exactly set and the students were given the opportunity of selecting their own topic. In a way this was good because it gave the students a chance to write about whatever they desired and had an interest in. On the other hand, topics of writing a term paper are infinite and one must sit down and decide what to write on. I thought about some possible subjects to write on but when we were given two topics--either flossing or driving, this really took a load off my shoulders. Phew!
Due to the fact that I work at a dental office, it was only obvious that I choose flossing as my subject. When we had to get into triads to discuss flossing and driving, everyone would ask each other about what they were going
to do their paper on. I'd tell my fellow classmates that I picked flossing because I worked in a dental office and they'd just laugh at me and we'd all get a big kick out of it.
Considering myself a class-A procrastinator, I knew I'd have to get my act together and start my term paper as early as I could. It wasn't an easy thing to do but I somehow managed.

The Importance of Flossing

In years past, people went to a specialist for help only when a problem became so severe that they couldn't function anymore. Times change and today we are all more enlightened and knowledgeable about our health. We know that
taking good care of ourselves is very important. Because we know more, we take a more active part in our own health care.The role of dentistry has grown tremendously over the years. People are more aware of the many benefits of having a healthy mouth and healthy teeth. To achieve this, this means brushing, flossing, and having regular 6-month examinations. Getting rid of plaque seems to be the key in maintaining good oral hygiene. Plaque is a soft, sticky, colorless film of bacteria constantly forming on your teeth. It combines with sugar and other carbohydrates to form acids, which in turn attack tooth enamel and cause cavities. Plaque can also cause inflammation of the gums which can then lead to periodontal disease. Periodontal disease is a condition that causes gums to recede and bone to deteriorate. As a result, the supporting structures of the mouth are weakened and teeth become loose. Periodontal disease is the most popular dental disease, even more so than tooth decay. This disease costs Americans an estimated $4 billion dollars a year. From the information just mentioned, dental hygiene must not be taken for granted.
Getting people to floss regularly isn't an easy task. Flossing thoroughly helps remove plaque and debris from between the teeth, especially in hard-to-reach areas and slightly under the gumline. Several companies have come out with different types of floss to fit each individuals needs and preferences. Long ago, dental floss used to be made of silk but because of the cost, floss is now made of nylon mono-filaments. There are three different types of floss people can use: waxed, unwaxed, and bonded floss. Also, as an added measure to help people floss more regularly, dental floss comes in different flavors such as mint. I wouldn't be surprised if new flavors appear in the next several years. One day you might have the opportunity to choose a dental floss flavor--just like how you choose flavors when you purchase shave ice for example. Flossing is a skill that can be developed with a little practice. Sometimes bleeding may occur after flossing. Half of the people that participated in my questionnaire said that they experienced some bleeding. In my research, I found that bleeding occurs for the first five or six days you floss. As the plaque is broken up and the bacteria are removed, the gums heal and the bleeding stops. If you were to stop flossing for a time, your gums may become reinfected and bleed again. Besides preventing dental decay and periodontal disease, flossing can also prevent possible root canals due to deep decay, early loss of deciduous (baby) teeth and the loss of permanent teeth. The one major thing we all must remember about this issue is the financial aspect. Because I work in the financial department, I know for a fact that repairing teeth is not a cheap matter. Costs can run well into the $100's to $300's per tooth easily, depending on the type of work. From this financial point of view, investing in dental floss, fluoride gels, water irrigation devices, and the like are much more economical for your pocketbook. Because the manpower supplied in these methods are supplied by the user, it is far more economical. You can easily receive healthy results if you are effective, motivated, and disciplined in the whole oral hygiene.

Data

Week of Observation (October 25 - 31)
Oct 25 - didn't floss
Oct 26 - flossed, gelled
Oct 27 - didn't floss
Oct 28 - flossed
Oct 29 - flossed
Oct 30 - didn't floss
Oct 31 - flossed


Week of Observation and Intervention (November 1 - 7)
Nov 1 - flossed
Nov 2 - didn't floss
Nov 3 - flossed, gelled
Nov 4 - flossed
Nov 5 - flossed, gelled
Nov 6 - flossed
Nov 7 - flossed


Affective, Cognitive, Sensorimotor Behaviors

List of Affective Behavior
- I should floss daily, after all, I work at a dental office.
- I felt guilty when I didn't floss
- I feel like I'm getting all the bacteria and plaque out from between my
teeth.
- I felt like my teeth were crowded and tight when I didn't floss.

List of Cognitive Behavior
-I think I should also brush after I floss too. That way I can brush all
the bacteria that I missed.
-I think I should use gel today.
-I don't think I'll floss today. I'm really tired.
-I wonder if the hygienists get tired of flossing other people's teeth
all day.
-I think a piece of corn is stuck between my teeth.
-Sometimes I worry when my gums bleed.
-It may seem like I don't have any food stuck between my teeth but
sometimes when I floss, I am surprised of what I find.


List of Sensorimotor Behavior
-"Yuck!"
-"Ugh, this is gross."
-"Oh my god!"
-When I don't floss for a couple of days, I notice that my teeth get sore
after I floss again. I guess it's the plaque that was built up.
-It's kind of sore when I don't floss for a couple of days and then I do
floss again. It's sort of a throbbing pain.
-It feels good when I know I flossed and gelled.
-It's spooky seeing a big-g piece of food come out when you floss.
-My fingers get sore when I wrap the floss around my fingers.


Week of Observation

During the period of my one week of observations, I tried to make it a point to be as natural as possible. By this, I mean that I didn't really think about flossing consciously. I just did what came naturally and whatever happened, happened. I didn't use a chart to record my data but instead just jotted down whether or not I flossed on my calendar. Because flossing requires you to open your mouth, there was no way I could record any verbal observations on a tape recorder. Flossing is totally different from driving. The one thing I did do was to collect all the thoughts and ideas that ran inside of my head while flossing. In anything you do, you are fully conscious and know what is going on all around you. There were a few exceptions when T caught myself saying things while flossing. For instance, sometimes when I'd floss, a big piece of food would come out and my first reaction would be, "Oh my god!" The funny thing is that you don't notice yourself saying these things until you really think about it hard. When it struck me that I actually verbalized something, it made me realize that you could indeed use a tape recorder. I thought this was so weird. I would look at myself in the mirror and catch myself smiling. I just couldn't believe it.
In trying to interpret my data of my one week of observations, I noticed a particular pattern. T noticed that on the day before I had my psychology 250 class, I would definitely floss. I don't know why but this observation really stood out. I thought of possible reasons this could be true and came out with some interesting motives. For one thing, it could be that I was thinking of the next day and while preparing my things and getting ready, I thought about my social psychology class. Secondly, because I'd constantly think about my 20-page term paper, I'd say to myself that I better floss. Still another reason that could have possibly affected my flossing behavior is by thinking of my job. Because I work at a dental office, it's only natural that I take good care of my teeth. It would surely be embarrassing if my boss and co-workers looked inside of my mouth and found many cavities and that I did a poor job taking care of my teeth. All these reasons are motivations (The underlying causes of people's desire to perform particular behaviors and their willingness to expend effort on them. p. 437) for me to floss my teeth. In addition, I also realized that I would neglect flossing my teeth
whenever I was tired. Because I floss my teeth before I go to bed, I would purposely skip flossing because I just wanted to "hit-the-sack". Oftentimes I would be studying late at night and would doze off or catch myself nodding off. Whenever this happened, I would shut my books and go directly to sleep. I didn't even think about not flossing and went directly into "dreamland". Furthermore, another observation I have noticed why I resist to flossing is that of my social life. If I'd go out on a Friday night and come home quite late, I didn't make it a point to floss my teeth. This is related to my previous example of being tired. If I'd come home late, all I wanted to do was to go to bed. I couldn't be bothered with flossing my teeth.

Week of Observation and Intervention
During the period of my one week of observation and intervention, I
really concentrated on making a point to floss daily. I told myself that I
would floss everyday-- no matter what. This wasn't an easy thing to do I'll
have you know. It took a lot of hard work and commitment to say the least. Nevertheless, I set my mind to the task and tried my best. I have found that I had to push myself and always kept the thought of flossing on my mind. To help me during the week of intervention, I utilized some techniques to help me out. First of all, I made a chart and taped it on my bathroom mirror. I've found that because it was visible and a good reminder, the chart helped me a great deal. The chart made me want to have a perfect record of flossing daily and was constantly on my mind. I even marked the chart when I gelled. As an extra aide in fighting cavities, I sometimes use a fluoride gel after I floss. I noticed that when looking at my data, I used the gel twice in my week of intervention as compared to only once in my week of observation. I must admit that I did a pretty good job in my week of intervention. I only missed one day of flossing. It was on Monday, November 2 and I recall the reason for not flossing that day. I had a history midterm and a special education quiz on that day. Of course I had been studying a great deal and after my exams were over, I was pooped. That night I didn't do any studying but spent the night trying to recuperate and relax. I also know that I went to bed early that same night. I've realized that a person's daily activities have a great deal of impact on whether a person sticks to a routine or not. Some people need extra help and reminders, while others may use the technique of goal setting ( A management technique in which highly specific work goals are set. p. 440). A lot of times we become distracted and our minds wander to other places of more interest and value. Depending on the individual, each must find their own means of efficient help to fit their personal needs. I myself make it a point to go jogging about 2-3 times a week. I think exercise and eating right are essential for everyone. Sometimes I look forward to jogging around Ala Moana Beach and can't wait to finish work because this is when I usually go jogging. Other days I feel lazy and not in the mood to go jogging. Either I take naps or watch television and block out the whole idea of jogging. I guess it's one of those things. I do write down how many times a week I go jogging on my calendar. It helps me a lot and gives me the inspiration to continue jogging. If not for my calendar, I don't think I'd still be jogging regularly today. I often wonder if other joggers have the same problem as I do. I wonder what makes them go jogging regularly and if they need as much help as I do. I guess if you really feel strongly about something, nothing can stand in your way. It's up to yourself because after all, it is your body.
Psy 250 Flossing Questionnaire Sample

1. Do you feel flossing is important in maintaining good oral health?
yes no

2. How often do you floss?

---everyday
---every other day
---every two days
---when food is stuck
---when I feel like it
---other (please specify)

3. Do you know the proper way to floss?
yes no

4. Do you experience bleeding after flossing?
no sometimes

5. Do you floss in the night or during the day?
day night

6. Do you floss directly after brushing your teeth?
yes no

7. Do you have regular six-month cleanings and examinations?
yes no
Results of Questionnaire
1. Do you feel flossing is important in maintaining good oral health?
Office
yes - 19
no - 1
Others
yes - 20
no -0

2. How often do you floss?
Office
everyday - 12
every other day - 3
every two days - 1
when food is stuck - 3
when I feel like it - 1
other - O

Others
everyday - 6
every other day - 4
every two days - 1
when food is stuck - 3
when I feel like it - 5
other - 1


3. Do you know the proper way to floss?
Office
yes - 19
no - 1

Others
yes - 18
no - 2

4. Do you experience bleeding after flossing?
Office
yes - 2
no - 11
sometimes - 7

Others
yes - 1
no - 11
sometimes - 8

5. Do you floss in the day or during the night?
Office
day - 1
night - 15
both - 4

Others
day - 2
night - 18
both - O

6. Do you floss directly after brushing your teeth?
Office
yes - 8
no - 12
Others
yes - 12
no - 8

7. Do you have regular six-month cleanings and examinations?
Office
yes - 15
no - 5
Others
yes - 13
no - 7

Questionnaire Results
One method of gathering information for this term paper that I resorted to was a questionnaire (A set of written questions given to the respondent. Questionnaires are used extensively in social science research because a large number of people can be questioned at small cost. Because respondents are asked the same questions in the same order, the process is not distorted by the interviewer. p. 10). Actually, I gave the questionnaire out to two different groups of people. I used a sample of twenty people because that is how many people employed at my dental office. I wanted to compare the results of the questionnaire with the people in my office and the other group
mainly friends and acquaintances. I figured that by comparing these two groups, I would find very interesting results. Before handing out the questionnaire on flossing, I decided to make a hypothesis (The predicted explanation for the outcome of research; the explanation the researcher thinks best accounts for the relationship between two or more events. p.10). I hypothesized that the people working at the dental office would excel in the frequency of flossing daily as compared to the other group. I figured that because the people worked at a dental office, they would have better oral hygiene and view flossing in a more positive manner. As for the results of the questionnaire, one thing that I expected and turned out to be true was that people at the dental office flossed more regularly than others not working in a dental office. My hypothesis proved to be correct in terms of flossing everyday. The thing that I didn't expect was that not all the people at the office flossed everyday. To me, this was shocking news. All along I thought that people in the dental profession took absolute care in the maintenance of their oral hygiene simply because of the environment but obviously I was mistaken. I guess that it really doesn't matter what kind of environment you are in. It all depends on the individual and how that person feels about flossing in particular. In looking at the data for the second group I questioned, I noticed that they flossed less everyday (six people as compared to twelve at the dental office) and didn't seem to view flossing their teeth as one of their top priorities in life. When I'd give them the questionnaire, they would tell me things like, "Yes, I think flossing is important but do I floss? No." and "Floss my teeth? Are you kidding?" I just laughed and knew the kinds of things they were thinking about. Another significant observation that I came across was that there was a higher number of people who flossed "when food was stuck" and "when they felt like it." I thought this was interesting. My guess is that other things were more important to them ( school, social life, relationships, sports, etc.) than the thought of flossing. As you can see, the use of a questionnaire has helped me a great deal in writing my term paper. It gave me invaluable results as well as the opportunity to find things that I would of never guessed. I think it would be interesting if I sampled more than twenty people. I wonder if I would have gotten the same kind of results or found out anything new.

Flossing and Behavior Modification
Dental flossing is definitely related to the concept of behavior modification. A treatment approach to psychological problems that emphasizes the role of a person's learning history and current behavior in the causation and maintenance of his or her problems. p. 381). Because this term paper is on my resistance to dental flossing, the problem here is why I don't floss-as often as I should. Somehow I neglect flossing my teeth and don't view it as one of my priorities in my daily routine. I really thought about my resistance to flossing a great deal and came up with several reasons. When I was a child, I remember that I used to dread going to the dentist to have my teeth checked. I wasn't afraid of the dentist but didn't like the pain received in the process of having fillings done. I used to hate hearing the sound of the drill while waiting for my turn also. The mere sound of the machine screeching was enough to scare the wits out of me. Another thing I remember is that my mother didn't like going to the dentist. She would get toothaches and I'd remember her suffering, lying in bed, and withstanding the pain because she refused to see the dentist. She would finally give in when she couldn't handle the pain any longer. I think that modeling (A concept from social learning theory. Learning by observing others perform some behavior and then imitating it. Whether a person continues to perform a behavior learned through modeling depends upon whether it is reinforced or not. p. 166) had some kind of effect on me. I'd see how my mother was afraid of going to the dentist and I myself would be afraid also. In addition trained to floss my teeth as a young child. My parents did not instill the importance and benefits of flossing my teeth and I think that this contributes to my resistance to flossing. Generally speaking, most youngsters are trained and taught the proper things by their parents in order to lead a successful and fruitful life. Behaviors learned as a child would more likely be carried on to their adult years. I believe that if my flossing behavior was modified when I was younger, my efforts and attitudes (A general feeling or evaluation--positive or negative--about some person, object, or issue. p. 153) towards flossing would be different. One suggestion I have that would help people who resist to flossing, including myself, is motivation. If we were motivated by rewards, say for example money, I bet that our flossing behavior would be modified. It would give us incentive as well as act as a positive reinforcement (Any event that strengthens the probability that the behavior that led to it will be repeated. Commonly thought of as a reward, but a reinforcement is not necessarily a pleasant outcome. p. 101). Every now and then we need something or someone to help us along in life. They would give us an extra boost and lift us up. Whether it be rewards, praises, comments or what not, it would surely help an individual stick to a routine. For example, lets say a person whom we'll call John wanted to lose weight. He had been trying to lose weight for quite some time but was always unsuccessful in his efforts. He made up his mind that he would cut down on food intake and snacks and decided to try exercising as well. Friends and family would help him out by not giving him "junk food" and constantly reminded him of the foods he should eat. John did everything he could to stick to this routine and seemed to be prospering well. He received many comments from others for being a good dieter and for his obvious change in appearance. John eventually lost the weight he wanted and lived a more happy life. This was just a short example of how behavior can be modified to obtain positive results. Setting a goal can be essential in the behavior modification process. It gives you something to work at and something to look forward to. In addition, a lot of responsibility lies in the-individual. He or she should be well motivated and willing to invest the necessary time and effort needed. Also, a person's self-schemata (The mental frameworks that determine what facts about ourselves we pay attention to, how we store these facts in memory, and how we use the facts in forming impressions of ourselves. p. 71) is included in the behavior modification process. With these in mind, all we have to do is place flossing daily as our goal and we can achieve anything!

My Experiences In Gathering Information
The one good thing this assignment forced me to do was to learn how to use the On-Line Catalog. Previously I have seen the various terminals situated all over the first floor of Hamilton Library but never took the time to really find out what it was and how it could be utilized. ~e are very fortunate to have this research aide as it is extremely helpful, convenient and time-saving. I confess that it did take me a while to get acquainted to the computer. You have to be sure that you choose just the right words and subjects. I must admit that even though I praise this invaluable source of information, one unexpected thing happened to me while using this computer. All of a sudden something came over me and I started sneezing. I became light-headed and my nose started to run. I couldn't believe what was happening to me. I was actually becoming allergic to the On-Line Catalog! I remember also trying all kinds of subject headings on the computer, most of which didn't seem to click. I thought the computer was trying to get back at me for not knowing how to fully utilize it. I know you must think I'm kidding but this really did happen to me. It was so bad that I had to get off the computer and go to the restroom to fix myself up. Honest! In my experiences in gathering information, I have found the periodicals to be excellent sources. The only thing is that it is time-consuming. After you find the article you want to look up, you have to go through many steps before you find the article. By the time you go to the section of where the book is located, you are really "feeling it". One article I was trying to find was on flossing. I finally found the volume I wanted but the article was nowhere to be found. I double checked to see if I had the right book and date but I was correct. Then I looked where the pages are connected to the book. To much dismay, I found
that someone had ripped out the article! I was so upset and furious. It took me so long to find the article and when I finally find it, someone yanks it out. This is really selfish and intolerable. I cannot believe that some student could be so low and criminal. I hope that this person realizes the kind of deviant act he/she committed. Defacing library material is terrible, unfair and against the law. I have talked to fellow classmates about this particular incident and this one friend of mine said that the same thing happened to her also. It was about the same, exact article and we started to cuss and despise this particular thief. My friend said that she asked the librarian if this exact magazine was possibly located someplace else. He told her that Hamilton was the only library on Oahu that carried it. He said that he could try to get it somehow but it would take about one week. This would be too long so there was nothing else we could do. By far, I think that Infotrac Database is the most helpful and efficient means of gathering information. I have used this source of information before so I was quite familiar with the system. You don't have to worry about typing in words that aren't in the computer's memory bank. The information received is clear and easily understandable. Because you can print any desired information you choose, it is extremely convenient. Because I work at a dental office, another means of gathering information that I turned to was talking to the dentists and hygienists. They were more than willing to help in any way they could. Verna, one of the four hygienists really helped me a great deal. She gave me several pamphlets and articles on the topics of flossing and periodontal disease. I am really fortunate to work with such kind and thoughtful people. I'm really glad that I took the time to make a questionnaire on flossing. It was a helpful device which enabled me to learn many things about dental flossing. I found out many things that I would of never imagined and this made the whole experience of writing a term paper more rewarding and informative.

Conclusion

This term paper had definitely changed my attitudes and behaviors towards flossing for the better. I really didn't view flossing as an important function but after having done research on this subject, I am proud to say that I am a reformed regular flosser. In the past, I used to floss my teeth at the most about every other day. It just goes to show that with adequate background information as well as a positive attitude, anything you set your mind to can be achieved. I really thought about the importance of flossing a great deal. I thought to myself, "If you don't floss everyday, then what's the sense of flossing at all?" This really made sense to me and has changed my entire outlook towards flossing altogether. Even though this term paper took a lot of time and hard work, I feel that if it could change my resistance to flossing daily, it was truly worth the effort and proved to be enriching in the process as well.

Afterthoughts

This term paper turned out not to be as difficult as I originally expected. I worried a great deal about what I would say and include to meet the twenty-page requirement. When I explained to my friends that I had a twenty-page paper to
do, they couldn't believe it. Not one of them said that they had to do a paper as long as this. Nonetheless, I sticked this paper out and accepted the challenge. I felt a great sense of accomplishment after I completed this assignment. I felt like a ton was lifted off of my shoulders and couldn't believe the relief I experienced. It took me a long time to start my paper. I kept telling myself that I had plenty of time because originally this assignment was given to us at the beginning of the semester. Being the typical procrastinator, I was lazy and didn't want to think about this assignment. One thing is for sure, I learned many things in this experience. I learned how to use the On-Line Catalog which I had never used before and also found out some interesting results from my questionnaire. Another thing this paper made me do was to become more organized and disciplined. I had to gather lots of information and sacrificed many tempting things. I also think that this paper made me realize that I should floss everyday and gave me more incentive. As for advice for future psychology students taking this course, my advice to them is to start early and discipline yourself. Think of this assignment positively and GO FOR IT!
References

Carlos, James D.D.S. (1973). Prevention and Oral Health.
Bethesda: National Institutes of Health.
This is a book on dentistry which includes invaluable information
on maintaining good oral hygiene and health.


Colgate-Palmolive Co. (1982). Smile Protection.
Chicago: Colgate Professional Services Dept.
This is a manual put out by the Colgate-Palmolive Company and
includes many facts behind a total dental care program. Each
page includes color pictures and diagrams to explain dental hygiene.


Fones, Alfred D.D.S. (1934). Mouth Hygiene. (4th ed.).
Philadelphia: Lea & Febinger.
This book is all about dentistry in general which includes flossing
methods, amalgams, composites, root canals and the like. This book
mainly caters to the dental student.


Grazier, Jack. (1985, Mar. 23). Dental Health Sections.
Editor ~ Publisher, pp. 16, 21, 24.
This is a unique article written from a different kind of view
towards dental health. The writer explains his ideas and attitudes
of dental health and proves to himself that he could indeed write
this kind of article from a non-dental point of view.


5. Hopkins, Harold. (1984, Sept.). The Dental Plaque Battle Is Endless
But Worth It. FDA Consumer, pp. 30-31.
This article discusses the never-ending battle of plaque and also
gives information on periodontal disease. It explains why people
should take care of their oral health and views teeth as a lifetime asset.


6. Marx, Robert. (1986, Jan.). Self-Managed Skill Retentions.
Training ~ Developmental Journal, pp. 54-57.
This article gives strategies to retain self-management skills and
gives several different models to choose from.


McDaniel, Thomas. (1987, May). Practicing Positive Reinforcement.
Clearing House, pp. 389-392.
This article is all about the wonderful effects of positive
reinforcement and explains that it can be applied to most
any subject.


8. Watson, David. (1984). Social Psychology.
Glenview: Scott, Foresman Company.
This is a unique book on Social Psychology--science and application.
It covers cognitive, behavioral, and emotional effects of people.


9. Wilce, Gillian. (1986, Aug. 8). Still On The Floss.
New Statesman, p. 31.
This article is a witty and down-to-earth approach towards flossing.
The author uses ingenious ideas to convey her thoughts and does so
through examples of her personal experiences.


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