The effects of relaxation as self-control and a self-control variant of systematic desensitization in reducing targeted (test anxiety) and nontargeted anxieties were compared with those of wait-list and no-treatment expectancy controls. Immediately following counseling and at follow-up, groups given relaxation as self-control and modified desensitization both reported significantly less debilitating test anxiety and significantly more facilitating test anxiety than controls. In a stressful analogue testing condition, self-control groups reported significantly less worry, emotionality, and state test anxiety than controls. While no performance differences were found in the analogue situation, relaxation as self-control and modified desensitization subjects had significantly higher psychology grades than the no-treatment expectancy group. Grades of the wait-list group were not significantly different from those of other groups. The relaxation as self-control group showed reduction and maintenance on both measures of nontargeted anxiety relative to the controls. The modified desensitization group showed posttreatment reduction on both nontargeted anxiety measures but maintenance on only one.

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The theory and practice of aptitude testing are critically discussed within the context of current efforts to improve the status of the poor. Aptitude testing is contrasted with achievement testing with special attention directed toward underlying assumptions, validation procedures, and the interpretation of test scores. Aptitude tests are found to have profoundly bad effects for disadvantaged applicants. The tests bar them from employment and destroy their aspirations in the process. Recommendation is made for a battery of pre-employment tests more closely related to achievement test principles. It is argued that such a battery would be more relevant and hope-redeeming for underprivileged applicants while preserving the advantages of pre-employment ability testing.OST of the current efforts to improve BROWN, J. S. The motivation of behaufor.

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