Conducted study on Alzheimer's unit to test seven different visual barrier conditions for reducing patient exits. Findings indicated that exiting was eliminated under two conditions. Results suggest visual agnosia, the inability to interpret what the eye sees, may be used as tool in managing wandering behavior of Alzheimer's patients. (Author/NB)

Discusses how teachers can deal with student misbehavior by ignoring negative behavior that is motivated by a desire for attention. Practical techniques are described for pinpointing attention seekers, enlisting classmates to deal with misbehaving students, ignoring misbehavior, and distinguishing behavior that responds to this technique from…

In response to James Mulick (EC 232 032), this paper questions the value of the rhetoric used and motives ascribed to both proponents or opponents of the use of aversive therapy with persons having severe mental retardation. Questions concerning distinguishing aversive therapies from abusive treatment and identifying dehumanizing treatment are…

The article reviews characteristics of autism that affect adaptation to residential settings. A description of existing residential options, based on experiences in Great Britain and North Carolina, is presented. The development of residential programs specifically for people with autism is encouraged because their needs are often not met in…

A group of healthy mothers were compared with a group of mothers who had problems with getting their children to comply. Healthy mothers more effectively modulated their directives and had significantly higher scores on a measure of maternal coordination. (RH)

Investigated cognitive, academic, and psychosocial variables associated with success in alternative high school for emotionally and behaviorally disturbed youth. Findings from 32 students revealed that psychosocial variables (family pathology, duration of disturbance, age of admission) were associated with success, whereas cognitive and academic…

Predictors of premature withdrawal from a 12-week program of behavioral conditioning for childhood nocturnal enuresis were examined for 47 children (ages 5-14). The function containing number of previous techniques used, presence of child behavior problems, and parent tolerance of enuresis was a significant predictor of early termination of…

Investigates the behavioral development of 157 children of 7-15 years who were reared in children's villages. Results indicate that the proportion of behavior problems of children reared in monoparental foster care is equivalent to those of children reared in working-class families. (RJC)

Assessed factors contributing to 152 preservice teachers' choice of a helping or restrictive strategy to manage social immaturity and social defiance behavior among children. Regression analyses indicated that the costs of problem behavior significantly predicted the type of strategy the teachers would choose. (Author/TE)

A national survey of state agencies regarding statutes, regulations, and operating procedures for initiating and monitoring psychotropic drug regimens of persons with developmental disabilities showed that most states had more rules and regulations for persons in institutions than in community settings. (Author/DB)

Research with gifted children has identified certain clusters of traits which are directly related to a visual/spatial orientation in learning. This article presents common traits of visual/spatial learners, including introversion and behavior problems, and offers adaptive techniques that have been found effective in teaching "nonsequential"…

Explains proper and improper interpretations of the author's assertive discipline program. Teachers need to communicate clear rules for the classroom, teach students how to follow them, employ positive reinforcement, and use firm and consistent negative consequences for rule-breakers as a last resort. Includes five references. (MLH)

Ten profoundly retarded subjects are described as examples of the need for cooperative efforts between medical and psychological services since medical conditions, acute and chronic, can set the occasion for maladaptive behavior that might come first to the attention of a psychologist. (Author/DB)

Estimated effects of marital dissolution on several measures of children's well-being at 2 points in time using a nationally representative sample of 1,197 children. Regression estimates suggest that marital dissolution has pervasive, long-lasting effects on problem behavior, psychological distress, and academic performance. (RJC)

Relationships between teacher characteristics and their ratings of problem behavior and likelihood to refer students to special education were explored with 230 Dutch primary teachers. Teacher self-efficacy and pupil problem type (learning or behavioral) proved to be significant predictors of problem ratings and referral chances. (Author/DB)