Excessive Talking Research Articles

Comparing pragmatic abilities across multiple languages in adults with ADHD: Insights from a self-report questionnaire

ABSTRACT Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is associated with pragmatic language impairments in children, but less is known about the communicative abilities of adults with ADHD, especially when using a second or third language. In this study, we developed a questionnaire to collect self-report measures of a set of pragmatic skills in a person’s first, second and third language, comparing adults with and without an ADHD diagnosis. One hundred seventy-nine multilingual adults with (N = 91) and without ADHD (N = 88) completed the survey. As predicted, adults with ADHD reported more pragmatic difficulties than the control group. More specifically, people with ADHD showed pronounced impairments in regulating their behaviour in spoken interactions in the form of excessive talking, frequently interrupting others, and speaking without thinking first. Notably, these types of hyperactive and impulsive behaviours were significantly reduced when people with ADHD communicated in a second or third language. For pragmatic difficulties related to inattention such as concentrating on a conversation, both groups tended to be more inattentive in their third language compared to their first and second language. The understanding of non-literal language was only affected by ADHD in the first language and was generally more taxing in a language with lower proficiency levels. Our study contributes to a more nuanced understanding of how ADHD affects different kinds of communicative abilities in multilingual adults. It also has implications for clinical practice, highlighting the importance of assessing symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity in a person’s dominant language.

High Sugar Intake Increases ADHD Symptoms

Attention-deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that occurs in 5–12% of children in the world. ADHD has the characteristics of difficulty concentrating (focusing), being easily distracted, not being easily tired, excessive activity, impulsiveness, decreased executive function, fidgeting, excessive talking, difficulty waiting for one's turn, and often disturbing others. External factors that play an important role in the treatment of ADHD are nutrition and diet. Various nutrition experts have stated that nutrition plays an important role in neurodevelopment. Increased consumption of sugar calories is associated with decreased activity in areas associated with dopamine (posterior midbrain, dorsolateral/orbitofrontal cortices) and taste processing areas (postcentral gyrus) during sugar consumption. The method used in this study uses study literature collected from various reference journal articles from 2007–2023 and international journal articles that are interconnected. All the articles obtained state that sugar can disrupt the balance of neurotransmitters in the body of people with ADHD, namely dopamine and norepinephrine, which will increase the symptoms of ADHD. The significance value obtained is below p 0.05, which means that there is an effect of sugar on the symptoms of ADHD. Based on several sources of journal articles, it can be concluded that consuming sugar in children with ADHD will increase the symptoms of ADHD, such as inattentiveness and impulsivity. However, sugar consumption in normal children does not cause ADHD, but it is possible to experience other diseases.

A Survey of Vocal Health in Carnatic Singing Students

Vocal health and hygiene are well addressed for professional singers, but less attention has been paid to singing trainees/students whose vocal demands vary significantly from trained singers. Studies conducted in the literature on singing trainees have reported a higher prevalence of voice problems in them; however, no such information is available from Indian classical singing trainees. Hence, the present study explored the frequency and nature of voice problems, self-reported vocal health and awareness of vocal hygiene and its practices in Carnatic singing trainees. This cross-sectional study was conducted using a purposive sampling method. The data were gathered from 135 Carnatic classical singing trainees. The participants completed a self-reported questionnaire addressing demographic and singing-related details, vocal symptoms, variables associated with increased risk reporting voice problems and knowledge about factors influencing vocal health. The experience of past and point prevalence of voice problems in Carnatic singing students were found to be 29% and 15%, respectively. Difficulty singing higher notes, hoarseness, tired voice, loss of ability to sing/speak loudly, and breathiness in higher pitch range were the most prevalent vocal symptom reported by Carnatic singing trainees. Nasal allergies, dry mouth/throat, and excessive stress in daily routine activities raising voice many times a day, dry mouth/throat and excessive talking in social situations was found to have a significant association with singing trainees reporting voice problems. However, availing medical assistance for voice problems was found to be poor in this group of singing students. Similar to trainees of other form of singing, Carnatic singing trainees also found to have a higher frequency of voice problems. Most of the singing trainees were found to be in their adolescent age period, and they face instability in their voice and are more vulnerable to develop voice problems. This indicates the need for in-depth understanding of voice problems experienced by Carnatic singing trainees aiming to promote their vocal health and prevent injury and be successful in their singing career.

Voicing the Queer Self: Listening to Portraits with Vernon Lee

Originating in a critical examination of Vernon Lee's perceived ugliness and her excessive talking among her acquaintances, this essay situates historically a series of portraits in which she features as a sitter, subject of comment and commentator, to suggest that the interweaving of voices and faces can be useful to resist the elision of seeing and knowing on which art historians often base their understanding of gender and sexuality in portraiture. As an art critic, Lee maintained an ambivalent position with regard to portraits. Her familiarity with the new psychology informed a response whereby resonance could shift the sensorial boundaries of the genre beyond its function as likeness. By engaging with Lee's interrogation of the voice of portraits, both in art writing and fiction, the essay examines a series of queer attempts to challenge the authority of the look to identify, define or consume the subject of portraiture. As the late nineteenth century also saw the emergence of talking styles as audible articulations of the queer self, contemporary representations of Lee and her loquacity may be read as queer propositions at a time when dominant discourses around ‘female inversion’ and the ‘speaking woman’ were being fixed by sexologists.

Symptoms and Risk Factors of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder can be characterized by impaired attention, hyperactivity or excessive motor activity, and impulsivity, which is disproportionate to age and the most common behavioral disorder in children and adolescents. Hyperactivity or excessive motor activity means an individual may seem to move about constantly, including in conditions when it is not appropriate, or excessively fidget, tap, or talk. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder frequently occurs with specific and global developmental and learning problems that include autistic spectrum disorders, difficulties with speech and language, motor co-ordination, and reading, as well as with a range of psychiatric disorders, notably oppositional defiant disorder, conduct disorder, and tic disorders. Long-term outcomes of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder can be dangerous because they elevate the rates of serious accidental injury, medicine addiction, depression, school or occupational failure, and involvement in the criminal justice system. Hyperactivity or excessive motor activity can be characterized by being unable to concentrate on tasks, being unable to sit still, excessive physical movement, excessive talking, interrupting conversations, and acting without thinking. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is associated with impairments in cognitive, academic, familial, and finally occupational domains of daily life functioning. Impaired social functioning can manifest as rejection by peers and conflicts with other children and adults. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is commonly associated with highly familial disorder, environmental and other modifiable risk factors such as prenatal substance exposures, heavy metal and chemical exposures, nutritional factors, and lifestyle and psychosocial factors.

Research for self-reported health problems after excessive talking time on mobile phones among university students

The devices that people use every day, such as mobile phones and wireless networks, emit electromagnetic waves in the radio frequency range. The widespread use of these devices, as well as the change in people’s social behavior, have dramatically increased their exposure to electromagnetic radiation. Due to the rapid increase of young people users, public health officials and the scientific community are showing particular interest in the possible effects of electromagnetic radiation on human health. Many researchers express strong concerns about the effects of exposure to electromagnetic radiation, as it can have a serious impact on physical, cognitive, and social health. This study focused on self-reported health problems after excessive talking time on mobile phones of 619 (n=619) University students of both genders, in the age group of 18-24 years were randomly selected. The data was collected using a close-ended questionnaire. Headache was found to be the most frequently reported symptom (69%) followed by pressure in the head (38.8%). In most self-reported health problems no correlation was found between the genders. Female students tend to talk more on their mobile phones, and it was found that this extensive use was associated with the declaration of more self-reported health problems. The results of this study do not leave us any room for complacency, especially when we talk about health issues, and continuous research is needed to protect people’s health. In addition, modern education should provide the necessary knowledge to students, but also take care of the development of the critical thinking of future citizens, so that they can make the most appropriate decisions for their health.

How to speak and vocal hygiene.

An abnormal tongue shape, pitch difference or voice quality can lead to difficulty communicating effectively. Common among teachers are voice issues, which can be uncomfortable and make it challenging to carry out daily tasks and work-related activities. 1 Teacher who suffers from voice disorders may have trouble communicating clearly with their students. Voice disorders affect negatively a teacher's ability to communicate effectively throughout the day and their emotions, leading them to feel inadequate and frustrated at times. Voice misuse is inappropriate voice usage. It includes speaking involving hard glottal attacks and cheerleading for an extended period. 2 Vocal abuse is defined as activities having a detrimental effect on the larynx and voice. These include yelling and screaming, excessive talking or singing, excessive talking with an upper respiratory infection or allergy. It is important to identify and reduce the phono traumatic behaviours (for example loud voice use, speaking over background noise, throat clearing, cheering and screaming, and unconventional voice production), awareness about the vocal mechanism, and address high-risk situations associated with speech. In addition, it involves controlling how much you talk, monitoring your pitch and intensity (The speech of a typical adult male will have a basic frequency from 85 to 155 Hz, and a typical adult female ranges from 165 to 255 Hz.) 3 and conserving your voice by resting it. A healthy voice is dependent upon several factors, including local lubrication (About 15.5 cups (3.7 litres) of fluids per day are recommended for men. 11.5 cups (2.7 litres) of fluids per day is recommended for women)4, necessary dietary choices; as well as eliminating the effect of medications, environment, and healthy lifestyle choices (reduction of alcohol, recreational drugs, tobacco, and caffeinated beverages,). 5.Voice hygiene has two primary goals: to improve communication effectiveness and to promote vocal health. Additionally, by fostering optimal vocal habits as a precautionary measure, your voice will be maintained healthily, reducing the risk of vocal injury. Voice hygiene awareness can help all professionals, especially teachers, to maintain voice quality. We believe regular voice use is a right of every individual, and understanding is needed to make people aware of voice disorders and how to prevent them. As professionals, we can assist and help out people with voice disorders or professionals at risk of acquiring voice disorders to rule out possible causes and treatment strategies.

Cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL) masquerading as CNS demyelination

BackgroundCADASIL is the most common single-gene disorder causing ischemic stroke. CADASIL has been linked to mutations in NOTCH3 gene, due to heterozygous missense mutations. The disease is of insidious onset, presenting with initial clinical features in third and fourth decade of life. However, it is now being increasingly acknowledged that individual clinical presentation, age, time of onset as well as disease severity are quite varied among patients with CADASIL most likely leading to under- or mis-diagnosis. The authors thereby report a genetically confirmed case of CADASIL with atypical clinical course and findings.Case presentationA 48-year-old woman presented with complaints of episodic headache, relapsing–remitting neurological illness, progressive cognitive impairment, and acute-onset loss of speech and ambulation. She was earlier being treated as a case of CNS demyelination for 10 years. On examination, vital parameters were within normal limits. Neurological examination revealed that the patient was drowsy, not verbalizing, not obeying commands, with movement of all four limbs on painful stimuli, hypertonia of all limbs, grade 3 + deep tendon reflexes, bilateral striatal toe and extensor plantar response. Magnetic resonance imaging of brain showed involvement of anterior temporal lobe and external capsule along with multiple acute infarcts. Cerebrospinal fluid analysis was found to be normal. Exome sequencing revealed heterozygous missense mutation in exon 2 of NOTCH3 gene. A definite diagnosis of CADASIL was made and patient was started on fluoxetine and aspirin, following which there was significant improvement over 4–6 weeks. Patient is able to carry out daily activities independently although continues to have mild persistent cognitive impairment with excessive talking and over familiarity.ConclusionsAs CADASIL has a relapsing and partially remitting course with frequently observed varied clinical presentation, patients may receive treatment for demyelination which may not be necessary. Hence, detailed family history along with knowledge of characteristic magnetic resonance imaging findings seen in CADASIL can help discern the diagnosis.

The Art of ADHD

In the piece, there are multiple events happening at the same time, and one of the key factors I wanted to highlight in the painting was the constant movement and change that occurred in the mind of one who has ADHD. On the right side of the painting, creativity is expressed through the abstract mediums and inconsistent flows and presses of the brush used. On the left side, however, the art is much neater and has clear imaging rather than having an abstract approach. This represents the right and left hemisphere of the human brain with its creative and logical side, but if that was all, then why are there four dividers rather than two? To answer that question, one needs to delve into ADHD a little more to find out. To start off, an understanding of what ADHD entails is necessary. ADHD, which stands for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, is often described as “an ongoing pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that interferes with functioning or development”. An average of 5.4 million children, about 8.4% of the world, has been diagnosed with ADHD, and an even higher amount are predicted to have undiagnosed ADHD. People diagnosed with ADHD often experience symptoms such as: Finding it difficult to sit still, this is especially true in environments that are calm and quiet. A need to constantly fidget and move their fingers. A difficulty when it comes to concentrating and paying all one's attention to a task. An excessive amount of physical movement. As well as excessive talking, beyond the normal. Having difficulty waiting for their turns as well as taking turns. A tendency to do an action before thinking it through. And finally, a habit of interrupting others while they speak. All in all, those with ADHD often have constant activity buzzing through their mind and are found to actively move from one task to another even without completing the first one. Therefore, I found it best to make not only two sides to the portrait of their brain, but four, since they are constantly firing neurons about multiple things all at the same time.

Faecal microbiota transplantation for bipolar disorder: A detailed case study.

Faecal microbiota transplantation for bipolar disorder: A detailed case study.

Novel method of intraoperative sign language to minimize cross infection of COVID-19 in trauma operating rooms

Introduction and Purpose: COVID-19 pandemic has changed the field of traumatology world-wide. Exposure by inhalation of droplets from an infected person is the main route of spread. Numerous studies has shown aerosols are generated not only by coughing and sneezing but also by speaking, talking loudly and whisper. Lot of talking is involved during trauma surgery during handling instruments. Mask wearing especially N95 can force us to use louder speech. Here we introduce a new universal sign language for orthopaedic instruments and maneuvers inside the operating rooms in order to reduce the speech involved so that inter personnel spread can be minimized. Materials and Methods: We have charted a universal hand gestures for most commonly used orthopaedic instruments and maneuvers commonly involved in a fracture fixation surgery. These gestures are taught to all doctors and staffs involved in fracture surgery. The staffs are motivated to use gestures instead of speaking. Each instruments when needed is indicated by a specific gesture. For quick reference a simplified chart showing the gestures can be pasted inside operating room walls. Conclusion: Operating a COVID positive patient during his infectious period is inevitable since trauma surgeries cannot be delayed unlike elective surgeries. Avoiding excessive talking during the procedure and using sign languages inside operating rooms can minimize viral load from operating personnel and therefore can safeguard medical professionals.

Voice-Related Problems, Vocal and Non-Vocal Habits in Naradiya Kirtankars: A Preliminary Study

Objective Naradiya kirtan is a part of India's rich folk heritage. Voice demands of the kirtankar (kirtan performer) include a combination of recitation, narration, and singing. Slight to moderate deviations in their voice could hamper their public image as well as endanger their career. A preliminary study was undertaken to explore the voice problems, vocal and non-vocal habits of Naradiya kirtankars. Study design Cross-sectional study design. Method A 22-item questionnaire was developed in English language and translated to Marathi language. This questionnaire was administered on 40 Naradiya kirtankars through purposive sampling. Participants included Naradiya kirtankars located in Mumbai and Pune cities with minimum of one-year training in the field and proficiency in Marathi language. Results Statistical analysis revealed that kirtankars might be at a risk of developing voice problems. Among the kirtankars with voice problems, frequently pursued primary occupations involving extensive voice use, performed in a noisy environment, indulged in excessive talking, strained the neck muscles while voicing, impersonated voice, had reduced duration of sleep, and hearing difficulty as compared to kirtankars without voice problems. Conclusion Study findings highlight the need for dedicated efforts towards increasing the awareness among the kirtankars’ about the vocal, non-vocal factors associated with voice problems and the role of voice health-care professionals in voice care. Naradiya kirtan is a part of India's rich folk heritage. Voice demands of the kirtankar (kirtan performer) include a combination of recitation, narration, and singing. Slight to moderate deviations in their voice could hamper their public image as well as endanger their career. A preliminary study was undertaken to explore the voice problems, vocal and non-vocal habits of Naradiya kirtankars. Cross-sectional study design. A 22-item questionnaire was developed in English language and translated to Marathi language. This questionnaire was administered on 40 Naradiya kirtankars through purposive sampling. Participants included Naradiya kirtankars located in Mumbai and Pune cities with minimum of one-year training in the field and proficiency in Marathi language. Statistical analysis revealed that kirtankars might be at a risk of developing voice problems. Among the kirtankars with voice problems, frequently pursued primary occupations involving extensive voice use, performed in a noisy environment, indulged in excessive talking, strained the neck muscles while voicing, impersonated voice, had reduced duration of sleep, and hearing difficulty as compared to kirtankars without voice problems. Study findings highlight the need for dedicated efforts towards increasing the awareness among the kirtankars’ about the vocal, non-vocal factors associated with voice problems and the role of voice health-care professionals in voice care.

Comparison of Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in Typically Developing Children and Children with Down Syndrome.

This study aimed to evaluate attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptom patterns among children with Down syndrome (DS) with or without ADHD and typically developing (TD) children with ADHD. Parents and teachers rated symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity, and general behavioral concerns for 22 children with DS and comorbid diagnoses of ADHD (DS + ADHD), 66 gender-matched and age-matched children with DS with no diagnosis of ADHD (DS - ADHD), and 66 gender-matched and age-matched TD children with ADHD (TD + ADHD). Children with DS were recruited from the community. TD children with ADHD were recruited from a specialty clinic evaluating for ADHD. Parents tended to report higher scores of inattention and hyperactivity for TD children with ADHD compared with children with DS and no ADHD. Although mean ADHD symptom summary scores were not significantly different in DS + ADHD and DS - ADHD, specific parent-report items (e.g., distractibility and being "on the go") did tend to differentiate these groups. By contrast, teachers tended to report higher inattention and hyperactivity scores for DS + ADHD compared with both DS - ADHD and TD + ADHD. Specific teacher-reported items tending to differentiate DS + ADHD and DS - ADHD included difficulties following through on tasks, avoiding tasks, leaving one's seat, and excessive talking. Variability in response patterns between parent and teacher reports for children with and without DS highlights the need to evaluate ADHD symptoms across environments. Our findings also suggest specific items that may particularly be helpful in distinguishing children with DS who do and do not have ADHD, although replication is needed.

Disentangling pediatric bipolar disorder and attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder: A neuropsychological approach.

The clinical and diagnostic debate circulating pediatric bipolar disorder (PBD) has been highlighted as one of the most controversial themes in child psychiatry. With atypical symptomatic expression, constituting its predominant diagnostic discrepancy, PBD is manifested through prolonged manic episodes and affective storms, lacking the symptomatic cycling and episodic nature presented in adult BD. Apart from its unique clinical presentation, the substantial symptomatic overlap with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) indicate an important diagnostic challenge in PBD. Specifically, both disorders share core characteristics such as irritability, hyperactivity, excessive talking and distractibility. Against this background of findings on the overlapping symptomatology between PBD and ADHD, current research guidelines highlight the need of exploring non-symptomatic markers as potential clinical phenotypes. Especially in disorders with distinctive biologic underpinnings, both clinicians and researchers have shown increased interest in establishing neuropsychological profiles. Recent neuropsychological studies indicated the distinct nature of neurocognitive deficits in PBD, describing impairments in various cognitive skills during acute episodes phases, while this severe deterioration of cognitive deficits appears to persist even during euthymic states. Regarding neuropsychological assessment in AHD, recent findings suggested dysfunctions in the domains of working memory, verbal memory and response inhibition. Furthermore, neuroimaging studies are fast becoming a key instrument to establish distinct neuropsychological profiles for PBD and ADHD. A large number of neuroimaging studies have indicated abnormalities in limbic, cortical and subcortical brain systems, while meta-analytic findings of voxel based morphometric studies highlight abnormalities in dorsolateral and lateral orbitofrontal-temporal areas in PBD. In recent neuroimaging findings with focus on neurocognitive performance during an emotional Stroop task, patients diagnosed with ADHD indicated activation on higher cortical centres associated with processing speed and significantly decreased role of sustained attention. Furthermore, these findings suggest emotional regulation and inhibitory control are moderately intercorrelated, adding more complexity to the theme of neurocognitive deficits in ADHD. These observations on the neurobiological mechanisms of cognitive impairments in PBD appear to provide robust evidence on a potential specific neuropsychological profile of PBD, the relationship between mood states and neuropsychological functioning, and the link between emotion generation and regulation in children with PBD.

Anti- NMDAR Autoimmune Encephalitis Presenting as Acute Psychosis: A Case Report


 
 
 
 Anti-NMDA receptor (NMDAR) encephalitis is a recently identified autoimmune disorder with prominent psychiatric symptoms. Patients usually present with acute behavioral change, psychosis, catatonic symptoms, memory deficits, seizures, dyskinesias, and autonomic instability. We present a case of a 13-year old who presented with noticeably chirpiness, excessive talking with unknown people and wandering around the neighborhood without purpose.The main symptoms of the patient and the important clinical findings were irrelevant talking which later developed into slurring of speech, abnormal movements and memory loss.This case is an example of how easily we are misled towards diagnosis based on the present symptoms. The patient suffered the unnecessary stigma of a psychiatric illness, which might stay imprinted on her for a long time. In this report we call for attention to the inclusion of anti-NMDAR encephalitis in the differential diagnosis of acute psychosis. It adds on to show that NMDAR might present in the most unexpected and unpredictable ways, sometimes misleading the patient away from medical help.Prompt diagnosis is critical as early immunotherapy and tumor removal could dramatically affect outcomes.
 
 
 

Vocal Hygiene in Collegiate Singers—Does Formal Training Relate to Practices?

Vocal hygiene is vitally important for protecting vocal quality and promoting vocal longevity. It includes adequate hydration, avoidance of environmental irritants, and refraining from phonotraumatic behaviors such as screaming, excessive talking, and throat clearing. Formal singing training in addition to enhancing singing techniques, is also assumed to promote good vocal hygiene. Consequently, we investigated whether collegiate singers with formal training are more likely to practice good vocal hygiene habits than untrained collegiate singers. We completed a prospective cohort study, where collegiate singers at Stanford University were voluntarily enrolled in an annual vocal health clinic. Full laryngeal exams were performed and demographic information, formal vocal training status, and information on vocal hygiene habits were obtained through questionnaires. The results were then analyzed by grouping singers as "untrained" if less than 1 year of formal training, and "trained" if greater than a year. A total of 82 singers were included for analysis, with 49 (59.8%) having greater than one year of formal training. Trained singers were more likely to employ a primary musical singing style of classical or operatic singing compared to untrained singers who were more likely to utilize "R&B" (P < 0.001). No significant differences were found between groups for hydration practices (P=0.20), caffeine consumption (P=0.73), warm up practices (P=0.08), and phonotraumatic behaviors. Alcohol consumption, smoking tobacco, marijuana, e-cigarette usage was similar between groups. Overall, 11% of our sample reported intermittent less than daily marijuana use, with one singer reporting daily consumption. None of the singers in this sample used e-cigarettes. These rates are noticeably lower than the agematched United States population. Perceptions of cigarettes, marijuana, electronic cigarettes, alcohol, and caffeine were also the same between groups, with the vast majority of singers perceiving these agents as harmful to the voice (64%-100% depending on the agent). No laryngeal pathology was identified during laryngeal examination of any singers. Vocal hygiene habits are similar between trained and untrained collegiate singers. This likely relates to a desire for vocal longevity irrespective of prior training. This may dispel the long-held assumption that formal training was necessary to develop good vocal habits. We do however, present a very homogenous, highly educated sample of collegiate singers from Stanford University, having significantly less at-risk behavior than their aged-matched counterparts in the general US population. A lack of laryngeal pathology despite extensive vocal demands may also be reflective of good vocal hygiene habits.

THE IMPLEMENTATION OF POSITIVE BEHAVIOR SUPPORT THROUGH CHAMPS TO IMPROVE STUDENT BEHAVIOR

An effective classroom is one that runs smoothly with a few disruptions. In fact, based on the observation at grade 4 XYZ school, the researcher found that students frequently did inappropriate behavior such as calling out, excessive talking, forgetting to raise the hand quietly when asking question or stating an idea. One factor that made it happen was because the students did not clearly know about the teacher’s behavior expectation. Facing these problems, the researcher decided to use a preventive way to minimalize the students’ misbehavior using the CHAMPS approach which is a part of Positive Behavior Support. The purpose is to find out whether the students’ behavior will be improved by the implementation of CHAMPS as an expectation before the lesson started. The method of this research was Classroom Action Research (CAR) which consisted of two cycles and involved 20 students. The instruments that used were the teacher’s rating scale, student’s attitude scale, and researcher’s journal reflection. Descriptive statistical analysis and qualitative descriptive analysis were the technique used to analyze the data. From the data that has been analyzed, the researcher concluded that the implementation of Positive Behavior Support using CHAMPS had been improved student behavior in the classroom, specifically in their compliance towards the classroom rules and procedures. In short, despite its weaknesses and limitation, CHAMPS can be an alternative to minimalize students’ misbehavior and improve students’ behavior in the classroom.

Interpersonal Mindfulness: Investigating Mindfulness in Interpersonal Interactions, co-Rumination, and Friendship Quality

There is growing interest in understanding the ways in which mindfulness influences interpersonal relationships. Two studies investigated the relationship between a newly proposed construct, interpersonal mindfulness, and the quality of a best or close friend. Interpersonal mindfulness is conceptualized as mindfulness during interpersonal interactions and includes awareness of self and others, accompanied with the qualities of nonjudgmental and nonreactive presence. Study 1 showed that interpersonal mindfulness was correlated with friendship quality, while accounting for trait mindfulness. Study 2 replicated and extended these findings by identifying and testing three possible mediators (i.e., perspective taking, basic psychological need satisfaction, and empathy) of the association between interpersonal mindfulness and friendship quality. Interrelations with co-rumination, or excessive talk about problems, were examined as well. Investigation of the psychometrics of the interpersonal mindfulness scale provided initial support for the reliability and validity. Results suggest that (1) interpersonal mindfulness is uniquely associated with the interpersonal outcome of friendship quality (controlling for trait mindfulness), whereas trait mindfulness is uniquely associated with the intrapersonal outcomes of depression and anxiety (while controlling for interpersonal mindfulness), (2) interpersonal mindfulness moderates the association of co-rumination and friendship quality, and (3) the association of interpersonal mindfulness and friendship quality is mediated by perspective taking and psychological need satisfaction. Limitations and future directions, as well as potential applied applications, are discussed.

‘Typically Norwegian to be impolite.’ Impoliteness according to whom?

This article discusses claims by immigrants in Norway that Norwegians are impolite from the book entitled, Typically Norwegian to Be Impolite? (Aambø, 2005). These claims are compared with other sources and discussed using theories primarily from linguistic politeness research. The overall aim of the article is to add to the limited research on (im)politeness in Norway and to increase awareness of Norwegian behavioural and communicative norms about (im)politeness. The study finds that some of the behaviour that foreigners deem impolite is considered impolite by many Norwegians too. Other behaviour, it is suggested, is not generated by indifference to politeness or an intent to be impolite, but rather, the opposite: to show consideration through a ‘distance rule of politeness’ that respects others’ autonomy and personal space. Concrete manifestations are not disturbing people with excessive talk, especially those one does not know well; not disturbing people with things one can manage on one’s own; not disturbing people by taking up their time; and, for shop assistants, not disturbing customers who have not asked for help. Verbal forms of politeness become less important when it is considered more polite not to talk at all unless one has something ‘proper’ (i.e. truthful, informational) to say.

Formal Differences

Formal Differences