Children can be taught to change their own inappropriate behavior and thereby make better use of their school time. This study indicates that such learning can be accomplished in small groups which should have efficiency appeal to counselors and administrators. (Author)

Examining the critical change (also referred to as re-socialization) in adults which can be stimulated by appropriate education programs, the author discusses differing rationales of adult education programs for value and attitudinal change in New Zealand.

Using an ABAB withdrawal design, a study investigated effects of a simple peer-prompting procedure on reducing or eliminating annoying/disruptive sounds made by a 13-year-old boy with developmental disabilities included in a general eighth-grade classroom. Peer prompting reduced his inappropriate noises, and follow-up data indicate the improvement…

Adults with mental retardation (n=22,740) were studied to investigate age-related changes in functioning and their relation to subsequent mortality. Individuals with Down syndrome, compared to non-Down syndrome individuals with mental retardation, were at earlier and higher risk for adaptive regression whether prevalence, incidence, or mortality…

Evaluated a conceptual model that links temperament, emotional knowledge, and family expressiveness to preschoolers' emotional regulation ability by giving "disappointing" prizes after a task. Subjects were 82 preschoolers. Found that children's positive displays when presented the disappointing prize were inversely related to the…

This article reviews eight comprehensive social-emotional curricula for children under age 6 and describes two promising curricula currently under investigation. These programs have been successful in the promotion of interpersonal skills and the reduction or prevention of challenging behavior. Attention is given to the level of evidence or…

A study of 14 secondary students (7 from special education) in detention investigated their perceptions on why they and their friends had received detention and how they would deal with these misbehaviors. Results indicated students felt rote enforcement, standardized procedures, and lack of communication with adults contributed to disciplinary…

Details reasons for children's fascination with war play, and teachers' concerns about such play. Asserts that although the best strategy is to reduce the amount of violence children see, children need to find ways to work out the violence they do see. Offers suggestions for addressing children's violent play, including promoting imaginative and…

A longitudinal study of 39 infants who engaged in stereotyped or self-injurious behaviors that were served in early intervention programs found these behaviors increased and declined over age more slowly than in typical babies. Head-banging seemed to be related to tantrums, whereas eye-poking developed early and seemed to be self-stimulatory.…

In response to a paper on effects of risperidone on behavior in people with developmental disabilities, this paper raises the issue of how clinicians determine whether treatment should target the psychiatric disorder underlying the aberrant behavior (diagnosis-based treatment) or should target the aberrant behavior directly (behavior-based…

This article provides guidance on the use of functional behavioral assessment (FBA) techniques to identify the function of problem behaviors by recording antecedents and consequences of each behavior. It includes a case study illustrating application of FBA as well as a sample form for recording observations, developing a behavioral hypothesis,…

Single-subject multiple probe designs were employed in two studies with 5 young adults who had mental retardation and mental illness. After learning visual arts activity skills in Study 1 and personally expressive behaviors in Study 2, participants displayed improvement in behaviors associated with mental illness and increases in expressive…

This case study evaluates the efficacy of intensive interaction approach in developing the social and communication ability of an 8-year-old boy with severe generalized developmental delay. The approach is based on the model of caregiver-infant interaction and principles of early development. Quantitative and qualitative data over 42 weeks showed…

Principles of discourse underlying Kohlberg's just community approach to moral education are outlined in the context of a German secondary school. (Author/BB)

A career counseling program evaluated the self-esteem of 28 displaced homemakers, then presented 3 sessions on the importance of personal appearance in hiring practices, wardrobe management, nonverbal communication, professional image, and self-concept. Analysis of participant evaluations indicated improved levels of control and confidence and…