Eighty infants, toddlers, and preschoolers were observed before, during, and after separations from their mothers. Results suggested that there were no negative cumulative effects of repeated separations. The children seemed to adapt to repeated separations following the stressful experience with their first separation. (GLR)

Fourteen autistic children (ages 5-13) were administered Org 2766 (a synthetic analog of the adrenocorticotrophic hormone 4-9) or a placebo for 4 weeks. The hormone appeared to decrease stereotypic behavior and increase such behaviors as "change toys,""locomote," and "talk," though Aberrant Behavior Checklist ratings…

Analyses of stereotypy by a woman with severe mental retardation showed that the behavior was maintained by escape from demands. A sequence of high-probability requests issued immediately prior to a task-related request established a momentum of compliance that increased compliance with task-related demands, which was accompanied by collateral…

A survey of 927 registered nurses received 248 responses showing that more highly educated nurses engaged in more professional behaviors such as reading journals and updating skills. Attitudinal commitment to the profession did not differ significantly with educational level. (SK)

A survey of 59 physicians following continuing medical education found that 51 planned changes as a result. Forty-eight completed a follow-up survey in which 42 reported successfully making changes. Barriers were related to skills and strategies needed to manage planned changes. (SK)

A study of principals in the Illinois Administrators' Academy individualized development program during 1990-91 examined changes in instructional leadership to determine whether mentors affected principals' behaviors. Principals reported changes in all behaviors associated with each of five leadership dimensions. Further interviews of…

This review of the literature on functional assessment and treatment of challenging behavior in children and adults with developmental disabilities first discusses functional assessment methods and then research issues, including informant assessment, direct observation assessment, and experimental (functional) analysis. The implications of this…

Addresses the ways in which the United States uses history to justify present events. Suggests that two myths about history tend to confuse thinking (1) the notion that history repeats itself, and (2) the belief that hindsight is 20-20. Argues that history teachers must alert students to the complexity of human events and avoid misleading…

Reviews Guy Steuart's career and major themes of his writing: the nature of health, program development process, and the role of the professional health educator. (SK)

The prevention, prediction, and management of crises with students having emotional/behavioral problems is addressed. Three phases of crisis management are identified: precrisis, during the crisis, and postcrisis. Techniques to reduce the frequency of behavioral crises and effective interventions are suggested. (DB)

To determine whether children younger than four have an authentic theory of mind, studies relying on deceptive hiding measures for indexing false belief were carried out. Children accurately anticipated the impact of deceptive strategies on the behavior and belief of opponents and used information management to help and hinder others' efforts. (BC)

Use of lithium with mentally retarded individuals with psychiatric conditions and/or behavior disturbances is discussed. The paper describes components of an adequate clinical trial and reviews case studies and double-blind cases. The paper concludes that aggression is the best indicator for lithium use, and reviews treatment parameters and…

Claims termination of counseling is punishment, not reward, to emotionally starved children from troubled environments. Discusses how counselor decided to allow students to come for weekly counseling if the student exhibited reasonably acceptable behavior that week. (ABL)

This commentary outlines considerations in assessing (and programing for) social validity to attain results that are valued by client audiences. It discusses the objectives and contexts of several types of social validation, procedures for conducting a social validation, and questions addressed by researchers in assessing social validity. (JDD)

Defines self-modeling as positive change in behavior that results from repeated observations of oneself on videotapes that depict only appropriate or desired behaviors. Sees self-modeling as effective, short-term, and relatively inexpensive technique that can be used by school psychologists in educational settings. Presents case study in which…