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…

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)

Topographical similarities and differences between repetitive behaviors exhibited by 12 nonretarded infants and 11 severely mentally retarded children were examined. An analysis of stereotyped body-rocking and hand-gazing behavior exhibited by both groups demonstrated topographical differences. (Author/CL)

The Personal Competence Profile was administered to 30 male adults with Down syndrome and 30 without Down syndrome matched on age, IQ, and years of instituionalization. Down syndrome subjects rated higher on attention, calmness, and niceness but lower on sensation, language, and boldness. (Author/CL)

The dimensional structure of adaptive behavior of mildly, moderately, and severely mentally retarded people was investigated using item and parcel factor analyses of the Client Development Evaluation Report with about 10,000 subjects. A stable six-factor structure of adaptive behavior was identified. (Author/DB)

Maladaptive behavior of 474 persons from a residential facility for mentally retarded individuals was investigated. Multiple regression analysis revealed that maladaptive behaviors were related to sex, social age, chronological age, resident's time spent on outside activities, number of residents per direct-care staff member, presence of sensory…

Groups of 100 mentally retarded adolescents, exhibiting both self-injurious behavior (SIB) and stereotypy, stereotypy alone, SIB alone, or neither of these types of behavior were rated in terms of response to sedative-hypnotic medication. Results suggested that the paradoxical response to sedative-hypnotics may be a form of withdrawal. (Author/CL)

A nationwide survey of 25,872 noninstitutionalized mentally retarded people in the Federal Republic of Germany found an estimated self-injurious behavior (SIB) prevalence among 1.7 percent. Prevalence of stereotypic behavior among SIB individuals was 65 percent compared to 62 percent among persons without SIB. (Author/CB)

Two large and five small institutions were rated on resident management practices, aid attitudes, and demographic variables. Institution and resident variables were used to predict responsiveness to social reinforcement, wariness, and outerdirectedness. Of the predictor variables, only mental age (MA) was related to all three. (Author/CL)

Analysis of effects of intertrial intervals on correct responding and self-stimulatory behavior by four autistic children (6-11 years old) revealed that short intertrial intervals produced decreased levels of self-stimulation and increased levels of correct responding. (Author/CL)