Thesis (MSD (Play Therapy)) -- University of Pretoria, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Illinois State University, 2001. / Title from title page screen, viewed March 28, 2006. Dissertation Committee: Mark Swerdlik (chair), Ray Bergner, Gary Creasey, Susan Godley, Jef Kahn. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 129-143) and abstract. Also available in print.

Thesis PlanB (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Stout, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references.

No description available.

Previous research suggests that as well as behavioural difficulties, a small subset of aggressive and antisocial children show callous unemotional (CU) personality traits (i.e., lack of remorse and absence of empathy) that set them apart from their low-CU peers. These children have been identified as being most at risk to follow a path of severe and persistent antisocial behaviour, showing distinct behavioural patterns, and have been found to respond less to traditional treatment programs. One particular focus of this thesis is that emerging findings have shown emotion recognition deficits within both groups. Whereas children who only show behavioural difficulties (in the absence of CU traits) have been found to misclassify vague and neutral expressions as anger, the presence of CU traits has been associated with an inability to correctly identify fear and to a lesser extend, sadness. Furthermore, emotion recognition competence varies with age and development. In general, emotion recognition improves with age, but interestingly there is some evidence that it may become less efficient during puberty. No research could be located, however, that assessed emotion recognition through childhood and adolescence for children high and low on CU traits and antisocial behaviour. The primary focus of this study was to investigate the impact of these personality traits and pubertal development on emotion recognition competence in isolation and in combination. A specific aim was to assess if puberty would exacerbate these deficits in children with pre-existing deficits in emotion recognition. The effect of gender, emotion type and measure characteristics, in particular the age of the target face, was also examined. A community sample of 703 children and adolescents aged 7-17 were administered the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire to assess adjustment, the Antisocial Process Screening Device to assess antisocial traits, and the Pubertal Development Scale was administered to evaluate pubertal stage. Empathy was assessed using the Bryant Index of Empathy for Children and Adolescents. Parents or caregivers completed parent version of these measures for their children. Emotion recognition ability was measured using the newly developed UNSW FACES task (Dadds, Hawes & Merz, 2004). Description of the development and validation of this measure are included. Contrary to expectations, emotion recognition accuracy was not negatively affected by puberty. In addition, no overall differences in emotion recognition ability were found due to participant’s gender or target face age group characteristics. The hypothesis that participants would be better at recognising emotions expressed by their own age group was therefore not supported. In line with expectations, significant negative associations between CU traits and fear recognition were found. However, these were small, and contrary to expectations, were found for girls rather than boys. Also, puberty did not exacerbate emotion recognition deficits in high CU children. However, the relationship between CU traits and emotion recognition was affected differently by pubertal status. The implications of these results are discussed in relation to future research into emotion recognition deficits within this population. In addition, theoretical and practical implications of these findings for the development of antisocial behaviour and the treatment of children showing CU traits are explored.

Previous research suggests that as well as behavioural difficulties, a small subset of aggressive and antisocial children show callous unemotional (CU) personality traits (i.e., lack of remorse and absence of empathy) that set them apart from their low-CU peers. These children have been identified as being most at risk to follow a path of severe and persistent antisocial behaviour, showing distinct behavioural patterns, and have been found to respond less to traditional treatment programs. One particular focus of this thesis is that emerging findings have shown emotion recognition deficits within both groups. Whereas children who only show behavioural difficulties (in the absence of CU traits) have been found to misclassify vague and neutral expressions as anger, the presence of CU traits has been associated with an inability to correctly identify fear and to a lesser extend, sadness. Furthermore, emotion recognition competence varies with age and development. In general, emotion recognition improves with age, but interestingly there is some evidence that it may become less efficient during puberty. No research could be located, however, that assessed emotion recognition through childhood and adolescence for children high and low on CU traits and antisocial behaviour. The primary focus of this study was to investigate the impact of these personality traits and pubertal development on emotion recognition competence in isolation and in combination. A specific aim was to assess if puberty would exacerbate these deficits in children with pre-existing deficits in emotion recognition. The effect of gender, emotion type and measure characteristics, in particular the age of the target face, was also examined. A community sample of 703 children and adolescents aged 7-17 were administered the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire to assess adjustment, the Antisocial Process Screening Device to assess antisocial traits, and the Pubertal Development Scale was administered to evaluate pubertal stage. Empathy was assessed using the Bryant Index of Empathy for Children and Adolescents. Parents or caregivers completed parent version of these measures for their children. Emotion recognition ability was measured using the newly developed UNSW FACES task (Dadds, Hawes & Merz, 2004). Description of the development and validation of this measure are included. Contrary to expectations, emotion recognition accuracy was not negatively affected by puberty. In addition, no overall differences in emotion recognition ability were found due to participant’s gender or target face age group characteristics. The hypothesis that participants would be better at recognising emotions expressed by their own age group was therefore not supported. In line with expectations, significant negative associations between CU traits and fear recognition were found. However, these were small, and contrary to expectations, were found for girls rather than boys. Also, puberty did not exacerbate emotion recognition deficits in high CU children. However, the relationship between CU traits and emotion recognition was affected differently by pubertal status. The implications of these results are discussed in relation to future research into emotion recognition deficits within this population. In addition, theoretical and practical implications of these findings for the development of antisocial behaviour and the treatment of children showing CU traits are explored.

Many fields of interest, of which Pediatrics is one, exist in Occupational Therapy. In the field of Pediatrics there are also diversity fields of interest. Many diagnostic groups are treated in the field of Pediatric Occupational Therapy. The traditional Pediatric Occupational Therapy process aims at treating the child holistically with regards to his cognitive, perceptual, motor and emotional areas of development. It seems that there is a tendency to focus on the more tangible aspects of development rather than the less visible elements such as emotional needs and problems. The question that might be asked is whether Pediatric Occupational Therapists are in fact equipped to deal with emotional needs and problems. Due to the nature of their work, there is a strong possibility that Pediatric Occupational Therapists can encounter children who suffer from emotional problems. These children are more often than not seen by Occupational Therapists although the therapists might prefer to rather work on the more tangibly aspects of development. This research study was aimed at assessing the need amongst Pediatric Occupational Therapists to deal with emotional problems. After completing the study it was possible to make valuable conclusions and recommendations. Gestalt Play Therapy was also proposed as a possible approach in dealing with children's emotional needs and problems in the course of their Occupational Therapy intervention. OPSOMMING Arbeidsterapie omsluit `n breë spektrum van spesialiteitsrigtings, waarvan Pediatrie een is. Binne die veld van Pediatrie blyk daar egter verdere diversiteit te wees met betrekking tot die diagnostiese groepe wat binne hierdie veld hanteer word. Die tradisionele Pediatriese Arbeidsterapie proses het ten doel om die kind holisties te benader met verwysing na die kognitief -perseptuele, motoriese en emosionele ontwikkelingsareas van die kind. Dit blyk egter dat daar `n geneigdheid is, en moontlik ook groter gemak bestaan om eerder aan die meer sigbare aspekte soos byvoorbeeld perseptuele en motoriese ontwikkeling te werk. Die vraag kan dus gevra word of Arbeidsterapeute genoegaam toegerus is om ook aan die emosionele behoeftes en probeleme van die kind aandag te kan gee. Die moontlikheid dat Arbeidsterapeute vanwee die diversiteit met betrekking tot die diagnostiese groepe wat ter sprake is in kontak kan kom met kinders wat ook emosionele behoeftes en probleme het bestaan. Alhoewel hierdie kinders opgeneem word in die Arbeidsterapie proses, is behandeling dikwels net op die tasbare ontwikkelings areas gerig. Die navorsing was spesifiek daarop gerig om te bepaal of daar wel `n behoefte bestaan onder Arbeidsterapeute om kinders se emosionele behoeftes aan te spreek. Na afloop van die studie, en nadat alle toepaslike inligting geïntegreer is, is daar waardevolle afleidings gemaak en is hierdie behoefte onder Arbeidsterapeute bevestig. Gestalt Spelterapie is ook voorgestel as `n moontlike benadering wat geïntegreer kan word ten einde die Arbeidsterapeut instaat te stel om meer effektief te werk te gaan met die kind se emosionele behoeftes en probleme. / Social work / D.Phil.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Florida State University, 2003. / Advisor: Neil Abell, Florida State University, School of Social Work. Title and description from dissertation home page (viewed Mar. 2, 2004). Includes bibliographical references.

Many fields of interest, of which Pediatrics is one, exist in Occupational Therapy. In the field of Pediatrics there are also diversity fields of interest. Many diagnostic groups are treated in the field of Pediatric Occupational Therapy. The traditional Pediatric Occupational Therapy process aims at treating the child holistically with regards to his cognitive, perceptual, motor and emotional areas of development. It seems that there is a tendency to focus on the more tangible aspects of development rather than the less visible elements such as emotional needs and problems. The question that might be asked is whether Pediatric Occupational Therapists are in fact equipped to deal with emotional needs and problems. Due to the nature of their work, there is a strong possibility that Pediatric Occupational Therapists can encounter children who suffer from emotional problems. These children are more often than not seen by Occupational Therapists although the therapists might prefer to rather work on the more tangibly aspects of development. This research study was aimed at assessing the need amongst Pediatric Occupational Therapists to deal with emotional problems. After completing the study it was possible to make valuable conclusions and recommendations. Gestalt Play Therapy was also proposed as a possible approach in dealing with children's emotional needs and problems in the course of their Occupational Therapy intervention. OPSOMMING Arbeidsterapie omsluit `n breë spektrum van spesialiteitsrigtings, waarvan Pediatrie een is. Binne die veld van Pediatrie blyk daar egter verdere diversiteit te wees met betrekking tot die diagnostiese groepe wat binne hierdie veld hanteer word. Die tradisionele Pediatriese Arbeidsterapie proses het ten doel om die kind holisties te benader met verwysing na die kognitief -perseptuele, motoriese en emosionele ontwikkelingsareas van die kind. Dit blyk egter dat daar `n geneigdheid is, en moontlik ook groter gemak bestaan om eerder aan die meer sigbare aspekte soos byvoorbeeld perseptuele en motoriese ontwikkeling te werk. Die vraag kan dus gevra word of Arbeidsterapeute genoegaam toegerus is om ook aan die emosionele behoeftes en probeleme van die kind aandag te kan gee. Die moontlikheid dat Arbeidsterapeute vanwee die diversiteit met betrekking tot die diagnostiese groepe wat ter sprake is in kontak kan kom met kinders wat ook emosionele behoeftes en probleme het bestaan. Alhoewel hierdie kinders opgeneem word in die Arbeidsterapie proses, is behandeling dikwels net op die tasbare ontwikkelings areas gerig. Die navorsing was spesifiek daarop gerig om te bepaal of daar wel `n behoefte bestaan onder Arbeidsterapeute om kinders se emosionele behoeftes aan te spreek. Na afloop van die studie, en nadat alle toepaslike inligting geïntegreer is, is daar waardevolle afleidings gemaak en is hierdie behoefte onder Arbeidsterapeute bevestig. Gestalt Spelterapie is ook voorgestel as `n moontlike benadering wat geïntegreer kan word ten einde die Arbeidsterapeut instaat te stel om meer effektief te werk te gaan met die kind se emosionele behoeftes en probleme. / Social work / D.Phil.

The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between certain upset family conditions and the performance of young children from these families as measured by selected instruments. This research was also concerned with the lack of provision in commonly used evaluative techniques for discrimination between those children who actually possess low ability and those whose ability to perform is diminished because of emotional problems.