Body-rocking and other habits of college students and persons with mental retardation

Author(s): RafaeliMor, N., Tarnovsky, S.

Journal/Book: Amer J Ment Retard. 1999; 104: 444 N Capitol St NW, Ste 846, Washington, DC 20001-1512, USA. Amer Assoc Mental Retardation. 107-116.

Abstract: Prevalence of body-rocking in college students was assessed, and the characteristics of body-rocking of college students were compared to those of individuals with mental retardation. For college students, the prevalence depended on the restrictiveness of the method used and varied between 3% and 25%. Video samples showed that when compared with college students, a greater proportion of people with mental retardation engage in body-rocking, seem less sensitive to situational factors, demonstrate atypical collateral behaviors, engage in less leg-kicking, and execute their body-rocking with larger amplitudes. There were no differences in duration or number of individual rocks or bouts of body-rocking. We conclude that body-rocking is a ''normal'' behavior whose form of expression may become atypical.

Note: Article Berkson G, Univ Illinois, Dept Psychol, MC-285, 1007 W Harrison St, Chicago,IL 60607 USA

Keyword(s): STEREOTYPED BEHAVIOR; CHILDREN; PREVALENCE; INFANCY; ADOLESCENTS; EXERCISE; ADULTS

Zurück | Weiter