Changes with aging and stability of dimensions of behavioral disturbance were determined for 732 children and adolescents who constituted the sample reassessed after 5 years of an original cross-sectional sample of Manhattan youth 6 to 18 years old. (Author/SBH)

A study of 22 children with autism and 19 children with mental retardation found that, when prompted, school-age and adolescent subjects with autism did not differ from children with mental retardation in production of functional play acts and situationally appropriate object substitution, but did produce fewer novel pretend play acts. (CR)

Two studies documented gender differences in preschool children's responses to situations of vulnerability. Children playing with same sex friends showed no sex differences in time responding to vulnerability; some sex differences were noted in response type. Children's preferences for vignettes representing categories of response to the same…

The correlates of 16 scales for the identification of substance abuse developed for the adolescent form of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory were studied with 180 adolescents receiving treatment for substance abuse. As expected, previously validated scales were reliably and positively correlated with therapists' ratings of behavioral…

The behavior of four adolescents with severe or profound mental retardation was evaluated in the presence of four sets of materials during periods of unstructured leisure activity. Results indicate that the participants allocated their time principally to stereotypic behavior with materials when the number of sets of materials available was…

Dabrowski's theory that sensitivity and intensity are characteristic of the psychological makeup of young gifted children was investigated in a qualitative study with five gifted children (ages 4 through 6). The study found the five overexcitabilities postulated by Dabrowski were manifested in the children's classroom and home behaviors. (DB)

The contributions of specific scales of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-Adolescent (MMPI-A) to the classification of 180 adolescent substance abusers into groups characterized by aspects of behavioral control were studied. Seven scales made significant contributions to the classification of substance abusers into three groups, with…

Proposes that the repetitive and stereotyped behavior displayed by many children with severe disabilities may be used as part of the child's educational program. Discussion is on recent research into stereotyped behavior, functionally equivalent behaviors, the relevance of early normal development, the social context of learning, and ways to use…

Examined correlates and predictors of risk-taking behavior in a sample of 278 African American women to explore risk-taking related to HIV infection. Women in this sample engaged in risky behavior for HIV and other health risks, such as smoking and substance use, and risk was predicted by individual and peer-related factors. (SLD)

Defines child abuse, including the three categories: physical, sexual, and psychological. Presents characteristics and behaviors of each type of abuse, and long-term effects. Discusses how to handle abuse that occurs at camp, and the effects on the camp. Sidebars present abuse statistics, 15 activities that promote psychological wellness, and 8…

This case study applied functional assessment methods to problem behavior of an adult male with severe mental retardation within the natural home setting. The problem behaviors did not occur when the subject was able to participate in a more preferred activity regardless of whether he chose the day activity program or it was chosen for him. (DB)

This article discusses clinical application of functional analysis in developmental disabilities, reviewing issues related to treatment logic and development. The article then approaches functional analysis as a research method, reviewing three areas of research: analysis of diverse response topographies, analysis of basic behavioral processes,…

Investigated interactions between stress level of syllables and articulatory difficulty as influences on children's early words. Subjects were 32 two-year olds asked to imitate nonsense words and syllables that varied in articulatory difficulty. Found that both factors had significant effects on aspects of children's imitations. (MOK)

Examined three- to five-year-old children's understanding of pretense and deception in folktales in which a villain deceived his victim by pretending to be someone else. Found that the three-year-olds were able to follow the pretense but were not able to grasp the false belief integral to the deception. (MOK)

Confirmatory factor analysis evaluated three a priori latent variable models of responses to the Need for Uniqueness Scale completed by 552 undergraduates. An oblique three-factor model best accounted for item commonality. Additional analysis suggests a model with loadings on four modestly correlated factors to explain the scale's latent…