Two children (ages seven and eight) with autism and moderate mental retardation, who engaged in stereotypic behavior, were studied to investigate the effects of social interaction with peers. Results found that when peers made social initiations and the children engaged in social interaction, collateral decreases occurred in their stereotypic…

This booklet is designed to help people understand and interact better with people with autism, through descriptions and suggestions for dealing with 33 autistic behaviors. First, the booklet provides a simple list, or index, of the 33 behaviors. Then, for each behavior, the typical "common response" (but not helpful) response is given, along with…

An experiment was performed to determine if unfamiliar laboratory conditions can affect infant research results. (JMB)

An intrinsically motivated behavior is one undertaken and enjoyed for its own sake, apart from external controls or ends. Expectancies are competence cues which focus on an individual's ability without providing objective information for ongoing comparison and competence development. This study focused on the role of affect in mediating the…

The SSHA and the VPI were administered to 100 undergraduates. The scales of the two instruments were compared using canonical analysis. The analysis revealed a relationship between a component of the SSHA and a component of the VPI which accounted for 31 percent of the variance of the two instruments. (Author)

IN EXPERIMENT 1, DEVELOPMENTAL CHANGES IN THE PROSODIC FEATURES OF INFANT VOCALIZING WERE STUDIED WITH NOVEL ELECTRO-ACOUSTIC TECHNIQUES. COMPLETE AND CONTINUOUS RECORDINGS OF ALL THE VOCALIZATIONS OF TWO INFANTS DURING THE FIRST FIVE MONTHS OF LIFE WERE COLLECTED AND SYSTEMATICALLY SAMPLED FOR ANALYSIS. COMPOSITE STATISTICS, DESCRIBING THE THREE…

To determine the antecedents of sucking in infants, the behavior of 24 infants from 48- to 60-hours-old was observed in relation to a sucking device. The device measured pressure and rate of sucking and delivered a controlled flow of nutrient. The interfeeding interval was varied among the experimental and control groups. Little sucking behavior…

This report presents estimates of the distributions of selected behavioral patterns of children 6-11 years of age in the noninstitutional population of the United States by age and sex. Findings are based on parents' ratings on a self-administered and a trained interviewer-administered medical history of children, which were examined in the Health…

This pamphlet is aimed at helping an individual to construct behavioral objectives. The first two criteria of a good behavioral objective are that the objectives be described in terms of the learner and an observable behavior or product. This publication is specifically designed to provide operational meaning to the observable behavior and to help…

Based upon eight months of observation in the same setting, 19 three- and four-year olds who had been in day care from infancy were compared on nine behavior traits with matched subjects who had no day care experience prior to the study. The early-day-care group was found to be significantly more aggressive, motorically active, and less…

The social behavior of 38 preschool children in a village play group was shown to exhibit considerable consistency from one half term to the next, from one term to the next, and between indoor classroom and outdoor playground situations. (Author/JMB)

A model is presented for decision making in everyday living situations, suitable for children and adults. Called "choice awareness," the system views decision making as composed of caring, ruling, enjoying, sorrowing, and thinking/working choices, all of which may either positively or negatively influence both the decision-maker and those who…