This meta-analysis of the developmental disabilities literature on remediation of problem behaviors evaluated relations between standards of practice, intervention and participant characteristics, and treatment validity. Results largely failed to support widespread assumptions of clinical practice such as the superiority of more intrusive…

This rejoinder to critiques (EC 602 213-215) of the authors' article (EC 602 212) on stereotypy and self-injury in the disabled responds to specific objections raised, including misleading statements, failure to address other existing models, misunderstandings, and need to include neurochemical factors. (DB)

Mothers and caregivers responded to hypothetical incidents in which a four-year-old child misbehaved. Mothers and caregivers differed in their causal attributions for children's misbehavior and their affective and behavioral responses to children's failures to be altruistic. Assertions of power were likely when respondents believed misbehavior was…

Teachers of 2 children (ages 7 and 13) with autism were trained to conduct a descriptive analysis and a classroom experimental analysis of aberrant behavior. Each procedure identified negative reinforcement as a maintaining variable for aberrant behavior. Intervention based on the assessment was successfully implemented with one child and had…

This article recommends strategies to speech-language pathologists for modifying behavior problems pertaining to authority relationships within the clinical setting and which interfere with the speech/language-impaired child's progress in therapy. (Author/DB)

Early education program staff who wish to nurture special qualities of difficult children can identify those qualities; allow for children's expression of feelings; build children's self-esteem; restructure the daily schedule to help children deal with difficult times; and live out a philosophy that respects the uniqueness of each child. (BC)

This article addresses difficult and disruptive behavior of children with severe learning difficulties in British classrooms. It stresses the importance of clear policy underlying teacher training in methods of prevention, intervention, restraint, and record keeping. Principles of inservice training in behavior management skills are identified.…

Vignette methodology was used to assess acceptability of behavior modification programs by 198 members of the American Association on Mental Retardation. The strongest predictor of treatment acceptability was the respondents' own estimates of probable treatment success. Secondary predictors included the restrictiveness of the proposed procedure…

This research review finds that academic activities and instructional interactions are potential sources of aversive stimuli that may increase undesirable escape and avoidance behavior in students with emotional disturbances. By reducing the availability of aversive stimuli in the instructional process, the development of more powerful and…

A survey determined the extent to which selected pediatric dental behavior management techniques are taught both didactically and clinically in 46 predoctoral and 45 postdoctoral programs. Results and trends are reported within the four categories of sedation, restraint, parental presence, and communications behavior management. (GLR)

Discusses specific strategies that teachers can use to help deal with dysfunctional behaviors manifested by abused children in the classroom, such as (1) behaving aggressively; (2) hurting others without seeming to care; (3) deliberately annoying others; (4) being hypervigilant; (5) dissociating themselves; and (6) fearing failure. Also examines…

Techniques for developing self-management skills in students with learning and/or behavioral difficulties are explained, including self-monitoring and self-instruction. Development of self-management skills is seen to facilitate mainstreaming and provide prereferral intervention assistance. (DB)

This article describes the need for early intervention for behavioral/emotional problems in special needs children. The model of the Behavioral Consultation Service of the Anne Arundel County (Maryland) Infants and Toddlers Program is applied to an infant with multiple disabilities, demonstrating relevant issues, intervention strategies to address…

Boarding school adolescent boys (n=197) rated dormitory mates on each dimension of Marcia's levels of ego identity achievement (Identity Achievement, Moratorium, Foreclosure, and Diffusion) twice with interval of six months. Results indicated age differences in identity status for young adolescents, identity development associated with time, and…

Guidelines for effective ecological assessment are put forth in the form of a list of diagnostic questions and a checklist of variables in the child's environment that may be contributing to behavior problems. Physical, psychosocial, and physiological factors are listed for consideration in analyzing the totality of influences on the child. (PB)