Two-day-old chicks were found to prefer an ancestral maternal call over a brief repetitive pure tone burst when stationary models emitted the calls; however, other chicks prefered the repetitive tone over the maternal call when the models emitting the calls were moving. (JMB)

Asserts that a primary concern to the alcoholic and to those who try to help him is the behavior that causes alcohol dependency. While not disputing the view that alcoholism may be a disease, argues that full responsibility should be assigned to the alcoholic for his behavior. (NB)

Differential diagnosis of Rett syndrome and infantile autism among 63 female patients (22 months to 15 years) was investigated. Conclusions concerned: characteristics of some Rett subjects but no autistic subjects, characteristics of all Rett subjects but not all autistic subjects, and characteristics of most Rett subjects and some autistic…

The Behavior Observation Scale was used to compare normal (N=10), retarded (N=10), and autistic (N=10) children. Analysis indicated overlap between retarded and autistic children and a distinct autistic behavioral pattern involving disturbances of sensory modulation and motility. (Author/DB)

The IQ and behavior patterns on the Autism Behavior Checklist (ABC) of 25 boys were compared to blood concentrations of platelet rich plasma (PRP) serotonin. Although no correlations were found between serotonin levels and IQ or ABC scales, four individual ABC items did correlate with serotonin concentrations. (Author/DB)

Patterns of play behavior in 18 young low vision children in a structured free-play situation with toys were analyzed. The presence of visual impairment was associated with significantly less functional and more stereotypical play behavior indicating quantitative and qualitative differences between groups. (Author/CL)

Six stages are hypothesized that define the behavior of returning mailed questionnaires: receiving the questionnaire, opening the mail, forming an overall impression, answering the questions, returning the questionnaire, and dealing with nonrespondents. The researcher must provide incentives at each stage if potential respondents are to complete a…

Results of a study involving six autistic children (3-10 years old) indicated that self-stimulation occurred significantly more often with unfamiliar than with familiar therapists. There was a significant and negative correlation between the occurrence of self-stimulation and correct responding. (Author/CL)

A communication arts professor at Gallaudet College for the deaf (1) discusses verbal and nonverbal aspects of deaf communication and assumptions about nonverbal abilities and behaviors of the deaf and (2) concludes that little accurate or up-to-date information exists on nonverbal communication for the deaf. (PD)

The nature of eye-pressing as a visual stimulation mannerism in children with severely impaired eyesight is examined, and a possible physiological explanation (that self-stimulation occurs when the demand of the brain for meaningful visual information is not met) is offered. (CL)

Over 60 studies using behavioral strategies to suppress sterotypic responding in handicapped individuals were reviewed to identify populations studied, behavior observed, interventions employed, and relative effectiveness of interventions used alone or in combinations. Discussion center on relative effectiveness of interventions and their…

An historical review of the documented cases of feral and other environmentally deprived children is presented. Discussion focuses on four groups of atypically reared children: animal-reared children, children isolated in wilderness, children confined in isolation, and children confined with limited human contact. (Author/CL)

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)

A short overcorrection procedure involving appropriate play with target toys was used to consequate the stereotypic manipulation of objects by an autistic child (6 years old) in a free play situation. The results indicate that overcorrection does not necessarily possess educative value. (Author/CL)

Two groups of second year medical students were given interview training, one by a conventional method (practice interviews with instructor feedback) and one in microcounseling (specific practice in attending behavior, open-ended questions, paraphraseing, etc.) Pre-training and post-training interviews with real patients were videotaped for each…