Abstract
A behavioral rating scale was utilized in the study of four categories of oral behavior: (a) pre-oral; (b) oral sucking; (c) oral biting; and (d) oral traits. Observations were made of a group of 32 latency-age boys who were hospitalized in a large psychiatric hospital. The subjects fell into four diagnostic groups: (a) psychotic; (b) retarded and brain damaged; (c) character disordered; and (d) neurotic. Observations were made of all boys on a monthly basis by nurses and child care workers, over a period of one year, by simply rating the presence or absence of behavior itemized on a checklist. By the use of the rating scales, it has been possible to obtain quantitative measures of behavior of large groups of children over a protracted period by untrained observers. This study has demonstrated the presence of primitive oral behavior along with more mature oral behavior in psychotic children. It is suggested that scales for measurement of other types of behavior, both libidinal and aggressive, can be developed in a similar fashion.
Published Version
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