Two studies examined the relationship between classroom crowding and the behavior of handicapped students in a total of 74 special classes. Both studies found the frequency of disruptive or aggressive behavior higher under the crowded conditions. (Author/DB)

Methodological flaws have spoiled the literature that attempts to link maltreatment to juvenile delinquency. This article presents improved definitions and measuring procedures for maltreatment and delinquency. The empirical findings show that certain types of child abuse and neglect are related to delinquency but that other types of maltreatment…

The "PEZ" candy dispenser has been used effectively to deliver reinforcers to moderately handicapped preschool students who display desirable behaviors. Contingency management procedures are described for using the candy dispenser to deliver reinforcers and subsequently to fade out the edible reinforcer and have the colorful dispenser itself…

This literature review points out physical discipline problems and their implications to physical education. Topics discussed include: (1) parent, community, and educator attitudes about discipline; (2) special discipline problems in physical education classes; (3) discipline approaches; and (4) special problem behaviors. (CB)

The article discusses areas of behavioral gerontology that would profit from additional research, such as self-management, community caregiver training, and geriatric behavioral pharmacology. Considerations for adapting behavioral procedures for the elderly are discussed, and suggestions for expanding the role of behavior analysis in geriatric…

Two male stroke victims (ages 63 and 67) whose verbal disorders impaired social interactions and suggested the need for nursing home placement were treated by teaching spouses to reinforce positive and ignore undesired verbal responses. Problem behaviors were reduced sufficiently to permit continued home care, and alternative positive behaviors…

Use of primarily reinforcement-based behavioral procedures decreased aggressive pinching in a 10-year-old severely retarded female to near-zero levels. Procedures included differential reinforcement of other behavior (DRO), DRO plus timeout, DRO plus response prevention, and differential reinforcement of incompatible behavior. Results were…

Surveyed discipline referral forms and records of five residential schools for the deaf. Reading ability followed by hearing loss, age, and sex of the student predicted discipline problems. The "typical problem" student would be a younger male who was a poorer reader and had a less severe hearing loss. (Author/BL)

Four third-grade male students with behavior problems were given tutoring sessions by sixth-grade tutors either contingent on or not contingent on classroom on task behavior. Contingent tutoring always produced improved on-task behavior, while noncontingent tutoring did not, suggesting that tutoring was an effective reinforcer. (Author/DB)

Seventy-four elementary school teachers rated five behavior problems portrayed in videotaped vignettes in terms of severity, manageability, tolerance, and contagion. Only contagion yielded significant differences (stronger within the disruptive context), suggesting that teachers held the target child responsible for the classroom disorder.…

A behavior management support group involving a psychologist and other school staff uses video recordings of students to help deal with the behavior problems of pupils with severe learning disabilities. (CL)

Children ages 2-3 years (N=46) described by their parents as hyperactive, inattentive, or noncompliant, and 22 controls were observed with their mothers during play. Among reported results was that mothers of problem children made more negative control statements at follow-up than mothers of controls. (Author/JW)

A study of family patterns and their relationship to television-viewing and children's development clearly indicate the combined influences of parental styles and television on emerging cognitive and behavioral tendencies. Television-viewing, although potentially positive with limited use and appropriate programing, generally predicts negative…

A study identified the antecedent characteristics of child and family best predicting behavioral/emotional problems at three years of age. Considered were the relationship of the index of attachment security to several mother-child relationship measures and to other child characteristics, such as difficult temperament and sociability. (Author/NH)

Discusses counseling teachers in the schools on the sexual acting-out of emotionally disturbed children. Clinical case material is presented to illustrate the meanings and motivations children have subconsciously applied to various types of sexual behavior. Proposes some guidelines that can be used constructively when discussing this problem with…