Abnormal stereotyped behaviors are a prominent aspect of the behavior of mentally retarded, blind and autistic children and adults. The origins of these behaviors are not yet clear but they may be homologous to some normal infant behaviors. Several short-term observational and experimental studies are proposed to investigate the factors which originate and maintain body, hand and object stereotypes in 2-5 year old children. Another study with young infants will determine whether abnormal behaviors emerge from normal patterns and will apply the results of the previous studies in the series in an attempt to prevent the maintenance of the behaviors in the infant's behavior repertoire.
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| Schwartz, S S; Gallagher, R J; Berkson, G (1986) Normal repetitive and abnormal stereotyped behavior of nonretarded infants and young mentally retarded children. Am J Ment Defic 90:625-30 |
| Gallagher, R J; Berkson, G (1986) Effect of intervention techniques in reducing stereotypic hand gazing in young severely disabled children. Am J Ment Defic 91:170-7 |
| Winnega, M; Berkson, G (1986) Analyzing the stimulus properties of objects used in stereotyped behavior. Am J Ment Defic 91:277-85 |
| Thompson, T J; Berkson, G (1985) Stereotyped behavior of severely disabled children in classroom and free-play settings. Am J Ment Defic 89:580-6 |
| Berkson, G; McQuiston, S; Jacobson, J W et al. (1985) The relationship between age and stereotyped behaviors. Ment Retard 23:31-3 |
