Notes that Millon's biopsychosocial model asserts that socioenvironmental factors of parental or peer rejection may shape development of avoidant behavior but does not elaborate on how family system may perpetuate its existence once disorder has evolved. Presents brief overview of avoidant behavior and strategic family therapy case study.…

As part of 5-state study of impact of special care units for demented residents, surveyed approximately 2,000 nursing homes to identify facilities that maintained some form of special care unit. Estimated prevalence of such units was 11 percent, suggesting that special care units are far more numerous than had previously been reported. (Author/NB)

Reviews several related literatures on family and personal correlates of adolescent problem behaviors with intention of providing integrative framework to guide future research. Presents model that postulates existence of two negative family types, psychological overcontrol and behavioral undercontrol, that place adolescents at risk for…

Examined how strategies to manage dementia problems in 152 older people were associated with adjustment of family members while providing assistance to relative. Identified three dementia management strategies (criticism, encouragement, and active management) that were associated with three indices of family members' emotional adjustment (burden,…

Utilizes fathers (N=3) and their developmentally disabled children, who ranged in age from 2 years 10 months to 4 years 5 months, to explore the impact of parent training. Also examines child compliance and inappropriate behaviors. Parent training resulted in desirable changes on a range of target behaviors. Discusses implications of the findings.…

Many psychologists assert that boys are in dire straits in U.S. society, but in fact, there is no evidence of an emotional or behavioral epidemic for either sex. If there is any truth to the claim that boys are in trouble, it results from practices that foster aggression. It is a mistake to regard either gender as "fragile." (SLD)

This paper reports on a six-month continuation treatment with naltrexone of six children with autism, previously found to be responsive to naltrexone in a four-week trial. Results indicated the moderate hyperactivity-reducing effect of naltrexone was maintained during the six-month continuation treatment but no additional gains in the domains of…

Presents a method for examining the Targeted Dysfunctional Behavior (TDB) cycle to help therapists and clients identify many possibilities for bringing about change, especially in the beginning of treatment. Theoretical rationale, stages of the cycle, and model are described with examples. The TDB cycle is outlined. (Author/EMK)

Reviews recent studies with respect to two causal relationships between reading disabilities and behavior problems: behavior problems lead to reading difficulties, and reading difficulties cause behavior problems. Suggests an underlying factor of early language difficulties for both reading disabilities and behavior patterns. (SLD)

Study assesses the recent rate of cigarette smoking and examines the association of cigarette smoking with individual factors and problem behaviors among middle school students (N=323) in Beijing, China. Results confirm that the prevalence of cigarette smoking among Chinese adolescents is higher among males, increases with advancing age, and is…

Presents three basic tenets of what form the foundation of an effective behavior management system to help beginning teachers at any level, particularly middle school. They include: always listening to the student's side of the story; being consistent in discipline; and knowing when to go higher (e.g., sending the student to the office). (SM)

Investigated the relationships between achievement strategies used in school by 1,185 adolescents and their self-esteem, school adjustment, and internalizing and externalizing problem behaviors. Results from several measures and parents' assessments suggest that the achievement strategies adolescents use are reflected not only in school adjustment…

Investigates effects of therapeutic storytelling and behavioral parent training in treating four clinic-referred, noncomplaint males. In condition I, one therapeutic storytelling session was followed by one behavioral parent training session. In condition II, the sequence was reversed. Results indicate that both treatments decreased frequency and…

Examined the classification agreement of risk status across alternative behavior rating methods for 80 preschool children and their teachers and studied target behavior selection. Compared the Social Skills Rating System (F. Gresham and S. Elliott, 1990) to a structured teacher interview. Overall, classification agreement in each comparison was…

Examines teachers' (N=200) perceptions of school behavior problems and preferred classroom management actions. Results show that internal student-related attributions were those most frequently adopted by the teachers, even though teachers' explanations varied significantly across school problems. Misbehavior-related attributions were…