Parent,teacher, and peer ratings of physically abused and nonmaltreated Children's behavior

Behavior ratings by parents, teachers, and classmates of physically abused fourth to sixth graders, identified from the New York City Maltreatment Register, and case-matched classroom controls, showed substantial concurrence among informants: Parents and teachers both rated significantly more behavioral disturbance in the abused children, and peers' ratings were significantly correlated with adults' ratings, especially those by teachers. Children's exposure to spouse or partner physical abuse, which had a substantial prevalence among both child-abusing and control families, reduced the difference in disturbance ratings between children who were themselves physically abused and those who were not. Overall, we conclude that physically abused children show pervasive behavioral disturbance, in that parents, teachers, and classmates all see higher levels of behavior problems and lower levels of socially desirable behavior in them compared to their nonmaltreated peers.This research was supported in part by research grant R01MH38814 and Clinical Research Center grant MH30906 from the National Institute of Mental Health. The authors thank the New York City Child Welfare Administration, especially Terry Weiss, for facilitating access to the Maltreatment Register; the NYC Board of Education for access to schools; and the many participating superintendents, principals, and teachers. Some preliminary data were presented as a poster at the Meetings of the American Academy of Child Psychiatry, New York, 1989.     

Language as context for the perception of emotion

In the blink of an eye, people can easily see emotion in another person's face. This fact leads many to assume that emotion perception is given and proceeds independently of conceptual processes such as language. In this paper we suggest otherwise and offer the hypothesis that language functions as a context in emotion perception. We review a variety of evidence consistent with the language-as-context view and then discuss how a linguistically relative approach to emotion perception allows for intriguing and generative questions about the extent to which language shapes the sensory processing involved in seeing emotion in another person's face.     

The unraveling of a treatment paradigm: a followup study of the Milan approach to family therapy

A 2-year followup study was conducted to determine the efficacy and degree of satisfaction with Milan-style family therapy with families refractory to other treatment interventions. Fourteen families and 5 couples who received Milan-style family therapy participated in the study. Family outcome was found to be improved in 56% of parents and 89% of identified child-patients at followup. Improved self-outcome at followup was reported by 56% of fathers, 67% of mothers, and 78% of identified child-patients. A substantial percentage of fathers (68%) and mothers (59%) reported that at least one family member sought further therapy posttreatment. Factors associated with either parent's positive perception of the treatment in general included the time interval between sessions, experiencing the treatment as brief rather than long, and positive feelings for the group behind the mirror. Mothers who reported liking the treatment reported better family outcome. For mothers, disliking the treatment was related to family members seeking further treatment. The more negative the mothers' and fathers' spontaneous comments about therapy were, the more likely that a family member would seek further alternative psychotherapy. The outcome results are explained in terms of the treatment families' negative reactions to some aspects of the therapist's stance and to the group behind the one-way mirror, as in Milan-style therapy. The importance of modifying Milan-type therapy to foster a positive attitude toward the treatment procedures and the therapist's interventions is discussed.     

Adolescent health needs. II: Utilization of health care by adolescents

In a random, mailed survey, 730 adolescents supplied information on their patterns and preferences for health care. The majority of respondents reported that they usually receive medical care from a private physician. Girls consulted physicians more frequently than boys, but there was no significant variation by age or social group. As the age of the respondent increased, the proportion visiting pediatricians decreased. When asked what they liked and disliked about their physician, respondents placed great emphasis upon the personal characteristics of the practitioner. Long waiting periods were the most common complaint. A significant proportion of adolescents with health concerns do not consult a health professional, even in cases where efficacious treatment may be available. Nervous/emotional problems, obesity, and birth control are concerns of adolescents which should be discussed with health professionals.     

The comparison of antisocial and prosocial children on multicriterion measures at summer camp

Eighty-four prosocial children and 14 children defined as antisocial according to various diagnostic measures utilized by the professional therapeutic community were compared as to incidences of prosocial, nonsocial, and antisocial behaviors exhibited at a summer camp. Additionally, the children and their group counselors completed various inventories posited to measure antisocial behavior. A time-sampling procedure used to secure behavioral measurements on the children each day, when possible, during 60-minute intervals for a 5-week period, revealed no significant differences on prosocial,nonsocial, and antisocial behavior. Self inventories provided data contradictory to the behavioral data. The results of the study are discussed in terms of the difficulties involved in operationalizing the concept of antisocial behavior and the possibility that the antisocial children may have been labeled.     

A kinesthesiometer for assessing digital passive movement sensitivity in man

An electromechanical system for the delivery of kinesthetic stimulation to human digits is described. The system provides highly precise control over angular velocity (in degrees per second), angular displacement (in degrees), and stimulus duration (in seconds) and uses an electromagnetic brake to terminate the stimuli. It also permits three measures of passive movement sensitivity to be made: correct detections, response time, and angular displacement.     

Classroom behavior and children with mental retardation: Comparison of children with and without ADHD

Thirty-four children (ages 6–12 years) with moderate to borderline mental retardation were studied in a laboratory classroom setting to determine whether children identified as having attention deficit hyperactivity disorder on the basis of Conners Questionnaires differed in classroom behavior. Half of the children scored 15 or greater on both the Parent and Teacher Conners; the remaining children scored 11 or less. All were participants in a Saturday Education Program serving children with mental retardation. Direct observation of the laboratory classroom documented significant differences between groups on measures of on-task behavior and fidgetiness, especially during situations where little direct teacher feedback or supervision was available. Saturday Education Program staff, while blind as to group designation, rated the two groups as differing significantly on all scales of two standardized behavior problem checklists. Checklists by parents and teachers appear to be valid measures of classroom behavior of children with moderate to borderline mental retardation.This research was supported by a grant to the first author from the National Institutes of Child Health and Human Development, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, grant No. 1R29HD26186-01A1. The authors gratefully acknowledge the assistance of the staff of Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh's Saturday Education Program: Nancy Hall, Aimee Hart, Phyllis Loeffler, Robin Nelson, Christina Poljak, Kelley Sacco, Sarah Stewart, and Mary Zuberbuehler.