Positive Plus

TV psychologist and bestselling author Brothers ( What Every Woman Should Know About Men ) here outlines methods for building self-esteem based on behavioral principles. Drastic changes or psychotherapy are not necessary or realistic, she stresses. By using positive and negative reinforcement, pre-visualizing, list-making, ``acting as if'' poses and other behavioral techniques, an individual can make subtle personality shifts to eliminate or reduce such self-destructive tendencies as passivity, perfectionism, procrastination, overspending, boasting, lying and jealousy. By positively channeling, rather than eliminating, workaholism, anxiety and anger, we can make stress work for us instead of against. The book also offers advice on how to get through--and even benefit from--the life-changing crises of divorce, job loss and aging. Filled with personal anecdotes and case studies, this down-to-earth book should enable readers to set realistic goals for self-improvement and have fun while doing so. First Serial to Parade. (Apr.)