The paper examines the nature of abnormal stereotyped behavior, favoring a self-stimulation theory over one emphasizing an intrinsic oscillator mechanism. Questions of prevention are noted. (Author/CL)

Four studies analyzing body-rocking in individuals with mental retardation found: (1) rocking chairs are not necessarily preferred and produce higher amplitude rocking; (2) body-rocking characteristics were stable over a 21-month period; (3) when compared with body-rocking college students, persons with mental retardation engage in more…

Three studies analyzed stimulus feedback and the concept of control with three children and two adults having autism. The first study explored feedback from spinning tops, while the second and third emphasized control of various stimuli including spinning tops. Results indicate that autistic individuals' common interest in spinning tops is…

Three studies of stereotyped object behaviors conducted with 10 severely mentally retarded children (6 to 19 years old) found that context did not affect the level of object stereotypes, that most children responded to flexibility, and that judges could estimate only some of the feedback properties of the objects. (Author/CB)

Three data sets examining the prevalence of various abnormal stereotyped behaviors in severely disabled children attending early childhood programs indicated that the abnormal stereotyped behaviors increase with age at least until adolescence and that the effect is more marked in those with severe mental retardation. (CL)

In a study involving 101 severely developmentally disabled children (1-16 years old), stereotyped behaviors without objects was positively correlated with self-manipulation and chronological age and was negatively correlated with complex object manipulation, developmental age, developmental quotient, and teacher attention. Stereotyped behavior…

The relationship between abnormal stereotyped behaviors and abnormal focused affections was examined in 20 children (ages 7-13) with developmental disabilities. Results include all children with abnormal focused affections exhibited stereotypes; abnormal focused affects could be studied reliably in this population through several methodologies;…

Relative prevalence of stereotyped behaviors was studied with 246 children and adults with developmental disabilities. Two staff members completed a 54-item checklist assessing stereotyped behaviors, abnormal focused affections, compulsions, rigidity, savant skills, and defensiveness. Factor analyses produced weak evidence for a general stereotypy…

Monkeys with a severe visual acuity deficit were reared in social isolation to determine factors related to sterotyped movements, which have been observed in visually handicapped persons. (Author/MC)

Review of the literature on early development of typical and abnormal stereotyped and self-injurious behaviors found that such behaviors usually reach a maximum at age 2 and then decline but may increase again when the child reaches school age. Findings suggest that the second year may be a sensitive period for emergence of abnormal stereotyped…

A survey of eight motor habits, including body-rocking, was administered to two large samples (N=861, N=766) of college students. A surprisingly high proportion of respondents (over 40% of males and over 50% of females) reported they engaged in body rocking when either bored or overstimulated The similar incidence in people with mental retardation…

In the first of a series of papers describing social relationships among mentally disabled adults who worked in four sheltered workshops, procedures for observing and interviewing clients and for interviewing staff members are reported and data on reliability and general levels of social behavior are cited. (Author/SBH)