Teachers of 2 children (ages 7 and 13) with autism were trained to conduct a descriptive analysis and a classroom experimental analysis of aberrant behavior. Each procedure identified negative reinforcement as a maintaining variable for aberrant behavior. Intervention based on the assessment was successfully implemented with one child and had…

Early education program staff who wish to nurture special qualities of difficult children can identify those qualities; allow for children's expression of feelings; build children's self-esteem; restructure the daily schedule to help children deal with difficult times; and live out a philosophy that respects the uniqueness of each child. (BC)

Vignette methodology was used to assess acceptability of behavior modification programs by 198 members of the American Association on Mental Retardation. The strongest predictor of treatment acceptability was the respondents' own estimates of probable treatment success. Secondary predictors included the restrictiveness of the proposed procedure…

This research review finds that academic activities and instructional interactions are potential sources of aversive stimuli that may increase undesirable escape and avoidance behavior in students with emotional disturbances. By reducing the availability of aversive stimuli in the instructional process, the development of more powerful and…

A survey determined the extent to which selected pediatric dental behavior management techniques are taught both didactically and clinically in 46 predoctoral and 45 postdoctoral programs. Results and trends are reported within the four categories of sedation, restraint, parental presence, and communications behavior management. (GLR)

Discusses specific strategies that teachers can use to help deal with dysfunctional behaviors manifested by abused children in the classroom, such as (1) behaving aggressively; (2) hurting others without seeming to care; (3) deliberately annoying others; (4) being hypervigilant; (5) dissociating themselves; and (6) fearing failure. Also examines…

This article describes the need for early intervention for behavioral/emotional problems in special needs children. The model of the Behavioral Consultation Service of the Anne Arundel County (Maryland) Infants and Toddlers Program is applied to an infant with multiple disabilities, demonstrating relevant issues, intervention strategies to address…

Boarding school adolescent boys (n=197) rated dormitory mates on each dimension of Marcia's levels of ego identity achievement (Identity Achievement, Moratorium, Foreclosure, and Diffusion) twice with interval of six months. Results indicated age differences in identity status for young adolescents, identity development associated with time, and…

Guidelines for effective ecological assessment are put forth in the form of a list of diagnostic questions and a checklist of variables in the child's environment that may be contributing to behavior problems. Physical, psychosocial, and physiological factors are listed for consideration in analyzing the totality of influences on the child. (PB)

Examines disciplinary practices and child-maltreatment attitudes in foreign- and native-born Mexican-American mothers. Subjects responded to accounts of child misconduct and mistreatment. Foreign-born mothers more likely than natives to use spanking and verbal reasoning. Spanking not preferred by either group. Child-mistreatment-response…

The field of applied behavior analysis is not overly technological but emphasizes technology in some areas, such as research procedures, and not others, such as adoption of intervention programs. Efforts are often focused on program implementation, with little attention to the preparation needed to implement or to leave an effective program in…

Compared low-birthweight infants who participated in an intervention involving educational and family support services during the first three years of life with low-birthweight infants who received pediatric follow-up. Intervention group infants scored higher on cognitive tests and lower on measures of behavior problems at 24 and 36 months than…

Discusses one teacher's experiences with Kimmie, a Chinese-American first grader with violent tendencies, and how this young girl changed and became manageable, largely through writing and storytelling. Argues that writing may be a means of expression essential to troubled children like Kimmie. (HB)

This paper suggests that the management strategies of posting classroom rules, classroom arrangement, teacher movement in the classroom, and external reinforcement systems may more likely be used as setting events to enhance the effects of teacher coercion rather than as potential setting events to enhance positive reciprocal interactions.…

Examined links between parents' depression, marital quality, and parenting style, and their preschool and early adolescent children's angry, defiant, and acting-out behaviors. Parents' depression was related to the quality of their marital relationship and their parenting style, but not their children's behavior. (BC)