Difficulties regulating emotions during periods of distress may contribute to the high rates of co-occurring depression and anxiety in autistic adults. The emotional support plan (ESP) is a brief intervention designed to support autistic adults to use positive coping skills during periods of distress. Thirty-six autistic adults participated in…

Learning in the earliest stage of life--the infancy, toddlerhood and preschool period--is relational and rapid. Child-initiated and adult-mediated conversations, playful interactions and learning through active involvement are integral to young children making sense of their environments and to their development over time. The child's experience…

The article reviews the literature on self-control training with mentally retarded persons. Considered are applications of the strategies of self-monitoring, self-reinforcement, antecedent cue regulation, and self-instruction in work settings. (DB)

This article summarizes and critically analyzes the literature on self-restraint (in which a mentally retarded individual restricts or prevents motion of a body part), particularly its identification, etiology, modification, and relationship to self-injurious behavior. The paper examines the hypotheses of negative reinforcement and stimulus…

The 12 steps of the well-known mutual help group, Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), begin with Step One, admitting powerlessness. Although Step One has helped many problem drinkers and other addicts, its spiritual concepts have been criticized. The possibility of reconceptualizing powerlessness as empowering, not only within AA and its offshoot programs,…

This article discusses the acquisition of self-control using relaxation and guided imagery. These methods can be used in conjunction with other effective teaching tools to enable people who are deaf-blind to lead self-determined lives. An audiotape guided imagery script and a guided imagery script on index cards are described. (Contains…

This newsletter, focusing on literature and research on cognitive behavior modification (CBM), reviews articles and research on CBM with children. Works on retarded children, deaf children and children with learning disabilities are presented, with critical analyses. A parallel section on CBM with adults follows. Problem areas of phobias, anxiety,…

This review of the literature on the psychological adjustment of adults and children with severe learning difficulties looks at overall adjustment; interpersonal difficulties; self-concept; difficulties with self-control; and family relationships. Suggestions are offered regarding service delivery and the design of effective treatments for adult…

Contends that psychologists can benefit by understanding the religious development of religious clients. Reviews theories of religious development and research on a variety of issues involving religion over the life span. Investigates implications of theory and research on religious involvement in therapy and identifies important questions for…

It is difficult to make progress in the study of emotions and emotional development if the meanings assigned to central constructs vary widely across investigators. This book clarifies and synthesizes the different ways in which emotion researchers approach fundamental questions about the nature of emotion and emotional development. Theorist and…