DISTRIBUTIONS OF BODY‐ROCKING MANIFESTED BY SEVERELY MENTALLY DEFICIENT ADULTS IN WARD ENVIRONMENTS

Abstract

Systematic observations were made of the stereotyped body-rocking engaged in by 27 severely mentally deficient adults in ward environments. A significant decline in amount of body-rocking across the session was observed in each of the patients and other evidence sugested that this was an effect of fatigue. For 11 patients there was significant evidence of 90-110 min ultradian bio-rhythm in the amount of body-rocking. Rates of body-rocking showed less variation during the sessions. Apparently, these results, plus other cited evidence, make it less likely that body-rocking in experimental and in natural environments are the same operants.