It is a terrible shock to parents when they hear from a medical specialist that their child is not normal like other children, but retarded. Such parents are traumatized to the same extent as other parents may be when they lose a child to death. They go through the same phases of shock, denial, anger and mourning. A complicating factor is that these parents cannot recover from this loss as they are reminded of this sorrowful fact on a daily basis and to an increasingly difficult level. The aim of this investigation is firstly to determine the effect that severely retarded child has on the functioning of the family. Secondly, to determine what the needs of such a family are in respect of pastoral care; and finally, to provide guidelines for the care of a family with a severely retarded child. This research is based on the practical-theological model of Zerfass and comprises: • A basis-theory that reveals Biblical perspectives that have been researched about the topic; • A meta-theoretical assessment based on the literature survey (also in related fields), as well as empirical research. The empirical study is based on a number of interviews that were undertaken with families who have severely retarded children; • Theory for application that proposes guidelines for the pastoral care of the family with a severely retarded child in their care. The research results reveal lacunas that exist in available literature in respect of pastoral care for families with a severely retarded child. It is also clear from the results of the empirical research that ignorance about this type of pastoral care is common. The conclusion of this research is that these families who have severely retarded children do not enjoy the benefit of proper pastoral care. This happens because both pastoral care-givers as well as members of the parish underestimate the influence that such a child has on the family. The research results could assist in educating people who are, to a large extent, ignorant in this regard; as well as equipping pastoral care-givers with guidelines to care for families with severely retarded children. / Thesis (M.Th. (Pastoral))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2004.

It is a terrible shock to parents when they hear from a medical specialist that their child is not normal like other children, but retarded. Such parents are traumatized to the same extent as other parents may be when they lose a child to death. They go through the same phases of shock, denial, anger and mourning. A complicating factor is that these parents cannot recover from this loss as they are reminded of this sorrowful fact on a daily basis and to an increasingly difficult level. The aim of this investigation is firstly to determine the effect that severely retarded child has on the functioning of the family. Secondly, to determine what the needs of such a family are in respect of pastoral care; and finally, to provide guidelines for the care of a family with a severely retarded child. This research is based on the practical-theological model of Zerfass and comprises: • A basis-theory that reveals Biblical perspectives that have been researched about the topic; • A meta-theoretical assessment based on the literature survey (also in related fields), as well as empirical research. The empirical study is based on a number of interviews that were undertaken with families who have severely retarded children; • Theory for application that proposes guidelines for the pastoral care of the family with a severely retarded child in their care. The research results reveal lacunas that exist in available literature in respect of pastoral care for families with a severely retarded child. It is also clear from the results of the empirical research that ignorance about this type of pastoral care is common. The conclusion of this research is that these families who have severely retarded children do not enjoy the benefit of proper pastoral care. This happens because both pastoral care-givers as well as members of the parish underestimate the influence that such a child has on the family. The research results could assist in educating people who are, to a large extent, ignorant in this regard; as well as equipping pastoral care-givers with guidelines to care for families with severely retarded children. / Thesis (M.Th. (Pastoral))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2004.

The purpose of this investigation was to discover the relationship between parental attitudes and the adjustment of the mentally retarded child.

This study will describe relationships between characteristics of the retarded child and the amount and types of parental visitation.

The purpose of this study was to determine the usefulness of Koppitz's method of scoring the Bender Gestalt (BG) Test for the prediction of behavioral problems in retarded children. The problem behaviors with which this study was concerned were those most often associated with the hyperactive child.

The purpose of the present study was to determine whether Koppitz's developmental scoring techniques of mental maturity are applicable to mentally retarded children ages 5 to 12.

Após um levantamento inicial com 24 sujeitos, em uma instituição, foram observadas as ocorrências das auto-agressões de uma criança profundamente retardada, em diferentes situações do dia-­a-dia na instituição. Outras respostas da mesma criança foram também observadas e relacionadas com as auto-agressões. Dois grupamentos de ações foram identificados. Morder-se, juntamente com outras ações, aumentava diante de exigências de desempenho e restrição à locomoção; diminuía na presença de um pianinho ou quando havia música tocando. Bater-se na cabeça, juntamente com outras ações, pareceu ser controlado por estimulação auditiva. O conceito de auto-agressão foi discutido, sugerindo-se que comportamentos auto-lesivos (termo proposto, mais descritivo) poderiam ser auto-estimulatórios ou modalidades de agressão. Concluiu-se que o entendimento dos determinantes de comportamentos auto-lesivos pode dar-se através de sua análise funcional, feita em situação natural, pela análise de múltiplas respostas em múltiplas situações. Tal estudo pode trazer implicações para a elaboração de intervenções que promovam ganho significativos, múltiplos e permanentes. / A review of the existing literature showed a variety of self-aggressive acts*, which relate to other actions of the same individual. The same review showed furthermore that there are many situations in which such acts occur, with no agreement as to what originates and maintains self-aggression. After an initial survey in an institution including 24 subjects, the occurrence of self-aggressive acts was observed in a profoundly retarded child in different day-to-day situations at the institution. Other responses of the same child were also observed and related to the self-aggressive episodes. Most of the actions observed can be grouped into two classes of response. Biting herself and other related act ions increased in frequency when requirements were made and locomotion restricted, and decreased when a small piano was given to her or when music was playing. Hitting on the head and other related actions were seemingly controlled by auditory stimulation. The concept of self-aggression was discussed and self-injurious behavior (a more descriptive proposed expression) presented as either self-stimulation or a modality of aggression. It was concluded that an understanding of the determinants of self-injurious behavior can be achieved through functional analysis under natural conditions, including multiple responses in multiple situations. Such a study may have an impact on the development of measures that may lead to significant, multiple and permanent gains. * Self-injurious behavior is referred to, \"self-aggressive\" behavior.

Após um levantamento inicial com 24 sujeitos, em uma instituição, foram observadas as ocorrências das auto-agressões de uma criança profundamente retardada, em diferentes situações do dia-­a-dia na instituição. Outras respostas da mesma criança foram também observadas e relacionadas com as auto-agressões. Dois grupamentos de ações foram identificados. Morder-se, juntamente com outras ações, aumentava diante de exigências de desempenho e restrição à locomoção; diminuía na presença de um pianinho ou quando havia música tocando. Bater-se na cabeça, juntamente com outras ações, pareceu ser controlado por estimulação auditiva. O conceito de auto-agressão foi discutido, sugerindo-se que comportamentos auto-lesivos (termo proposto, mais descritivo) poderiam ser auto-estimulatórios ou modalidades de agressão. Concluiu-se que o entendimento dos determinantes de comportamentos auto-lesivos pode dar-se através de sua análise funcional, feita em situação natural, pela análise de múltiplas respostas em múltiplas situações. Tal estudo pode trazer implicações para a elaboração de intervenções que promovam ganho significativos, múltiplos e permanentes. / A review of the existing literature showed a variety of self-aggressive acts*, which relate to other actions of the same individual. The same review showed furthermore that there are many situations in which such acts occur, with no agreement as to what originates and maintains self-aggression. After an initial survey in an institution including 24 subjects, the occurrence of self-aggressive acts was observed in a profoundly retarded child in different day-to-day situations at the institution. Other responses of the same child were also observed and related to the self-aggressive episodes. Most of the actions observed can be grouped into two classes of response. Biting herself and other related act ions increased in frequency when requirements were made and locomotion restricted, and decreased when a small piano was given to her or when music was playing. Hitting on the head and other related actions were seemingly controlled by auditory stimulation. The concept of self-aggression was discussed and self-injurious behavior (a more descriptive proposed expression) presented as either self-stimulation or a modality of aggression. It was concluded that an understanding of the determinants of self-injurious behavior can be achieved through functional analysis under natural conditions, including multiple responses in multiple situations. Such a study may have an impact on the development of measures that may lead to significant, multiple and permanent gains. * Self-injurious behavior is referred to, \"self-aggressive\" behavior.

In Experiment 1, four subjects were trained to match two visual samples (A) and their respective nonidentical visual comparisons (B); i.e., A-B matching. During nonreinforced test trials, all subjects demonstrated stimulus equivalences within the context of sample-comparison reversibility (B-A matching): When B stimuli were used as samples, appropriate responding to A comparisons occurred. A-B and B-A matching persisted given novel stimuli as alternate comparisons. However, the novel comparisons were consistently selected in the presence of nonmatching stimuli: i.e., during trials comprised of a novel comparison, an A or B sample from one stimulus class, and an "incorrect" comparison from the other, B or A stimuli respectively. In Experiment 2, three groups of subjects were trained under three different mediated transfer paradigms (e.g., A-B, C-B matching). Tests for reversibility (e.g., B0A, B0C matching) and mediated transfer (e.g., A-C, C-A matching)evinced stimulus equivalences for 11 of 12 subjects. The 11 subjects also matched the mediated equivalences given novel comparisons; whereas, they selected the novel comparisons when combined with nonmatching stimuli. Overall, the demonstrated stimulus equivalences favor a concept learning interpretation of non-identity matching-to-sample. Additionally, the trained and mediated matching relations were comprised of complementary sets of S+ and S- rules: Any stimulus of a given class used as a sample designated both the "correct" and "incorrect" comparisons.

People with disability have been an underprivileged group in our society for long. As the problems that face them are multi-dimensional, the health care provided to them seems burden-heavy. The development of civil rights has raised the advocacy for deinstitutionalized welfare for people with disability. However, it needs to note that the roles of family major caregivers can not be omitted when discussing deinstitutionalization or the health care to people with disability. The government should look squarely at this issue in its public policies and address the family-based or female health care work. People with intellectual disability seldom get married. As a result, the female relatives or mothers play a pivotal role in providing care work. The experiences of mothers therefore will enormously assist in investigating the process of care-giving. Mothers were the main participants for the purpose of this research. Nine mothers and one father within Kaohsiung metropolitan area who perform health care to their children with disability were recruited. This study used in-depth interview in attempt to apply labeling theory to portray the stigma and unfair treatment they encountered in the society. Its particular conclusions were as follows: 1.This study consistent with some previous quantitative studies supported the finding that the problems that mothers face include metal disorders¡Bemotional depressions¡Beconomical difficulties and educational difficulties. 2.In tradition, care work is always viewed for granted as a responsibility to mothers. When health care work is needed, the responsibility undoubtedly will be distributed to them, but the decision making process does not always concern their willingness. 3.Because of the overlap between care work and paid work, mothers only seek those jobs that are un-technical, flexible and low waged. It is apparent that they still are trapped in so-called female poverty. 4.The discrimination and labeling against people with disability still exist in our society. The findings revealed that mothers take both positive and negative strategies to cope with this. The positive strategy is to strengthen their own self-confidence which is always from their participations in the society. Ignorance and avoidance however were reported as negative strategies. 5.Four mother types were constructed as a result of the enlightenment of labeling theory in the study and they are self-blamed¡Britualism¡Bself-salvation and utilitarianism from which four different types of care processes and coping strategies are developed respectively.