Tests the hypothesis that frequent parental visiting is associated with foster children's conflicting allegiances to foster families and biological parents. Results are consistent with the hypothesis that frequent visitation is potentially difficult because of the loyalty conflicts that might accompany frequent visiting. Suggests that…

Strategies are needed that assist both current practitioners and counselors-in-training in working safely and effectively with potentially aggressive young people and their families. This safety session is intended to reduce the risk of client violence by opening a forthright dialogue regarding the risk of violent behavior, specifying appropriate…

The purpose of this study was to examine the attitudes of the general public with regard to the acceptability of adoptive parents changing their minds and returning an adopted child who, after placement, had severe behavior problems. Results revealed that only 23% believed parents should be permitted to return an adopted child when the child has…

Assesses the interacting relationship between child behavior problems, marital satisfaction, maternal depression, and family cohesion in 43 mothers and school-aged boys. Results suggest that mothers with depressive symptoms report lower levels of marital satisfaction and higher levels of child behavior problems. Findings also suggest that maternal…

This article reviews 49 studies describing the use of differential reinforcement procedures to reduce maladaptive responding of persons with severe or profound mental retardation. Reviewed were the differential reinforcement of (1) alternative behavior; (2) low rates of responding; (3) other behavior; and (4) incompatible behavior. Findings were…

The study assessed whether 4 students (ages 9-13) with severe autistic disabilities could learn to use a self-management treatment package to reduce stereotypic behavior. Use of the procedures greatly reduced levels of stereotypic behavior. Improvement also occurred for extended periods of time in new settings without the presence of a treatment…

Conducted study on Alzheimer's unit to test seven different visual barrier conditions for reducing patient exits. Findings indicated that exiting was eliminated under two conditions. Results suggest visual agnosia, the inability to interpret what the eye sees, may be used as tool in managing wandering behavior of Alzheimer's patients. (Author/NB)

Discusses how teachers can deal with student misbehavior by ignoring negative behavior that is motivated by a desire for attention. Practical techniques are described for pinpointing attention seekers, enlisting classmates to deal with misbehaving students, ignoring misbehavior, and distinguishing behavior that responds to this technique from…

In response to James Mulick (EC 232 032), this paper questions the value of the rhetoric used and motives ascribed to both proponents or opponents of the use of aversive therapy with persons having severe mental retardation. Questions concerning distinguishing aversive therapies from abusive treatment and identifying dehumanizing treatment are…

The article reviews characteristics of autism that affect adaptation to residential settings. A description of existing residential options, based on experiences in Great Britain and North Carolina, is presented. The development of residential programs specifically for people with autism is encouraged because their needs are often not met in…

A group of healthy mothers were compared with a group of mothers who had problems with getting their children to comply. Healthy mothers more effectively modulated their directives and had significantly higher scores on a measure of maternal coordination. (RH)

Investigated cognitive, academic, and psychosocial variables associated with success in alternative high school for emotionally and behaviorally disturbed youth. Findings from 32 students revealed that psychosocial variables (family pathology, duration of disturbance, age of admission) were associated with success, whereas cognitive and academic…

Predictors of premature withdrawal from a 12-week program of behavioral conditioning for childhood nocturnal enuresis were examined for 47 children (ages 5-14). The function containing number of previous techniques used, presence of child behavior problems, and parent tolerance of enuresis was a significant predictor of early termination of…

Investigates the behavioral development of 157 children of 7-15 years who were reared in children's villages. Results indicate that the proportion of behavior problems of children reared in monoparental foster care is equivalent to those of children reared in working-class families. (RJC)

Assessed factors contributing to 152 preservice teachers' choice of a helping or restrictive strategy to manage social immaturity and social defiance behavior among children. Regression analyses indicated that the costs of problem behavior significantly predicted the type of strategy the teachers would choose. (Author/TE)