The recent literature on labeling in mental retardation is reviewed and a conceptual scheme based on T. Scheff's model is presented for future study of the labeling problem. The issue of the medicalization or demedicalization of mental retardation is discussed in light of P.L. 94-142, the Education for All Handicapped Children Act. (Author)

This commentary suggests that individuals' perceptions of mental retardation may be at least partially the result of social factors. Interactionist/phenomenological theoretical tenets are summarized to develop the view that mental retardation is socially constructed. The influence of values in how society treats people with retardation is briefly…

There is currently debate among professionals in the area of mental retardation/developmental disabilities regarding the use of, and a possible replacement for, the term mental retardation. Using the semantic differential technique, 284 participants drawn from various Midwestern populations completed assessments of several terms used to describe…

The article reviews the work of anthropologist R. Edgerton and his conception of sociocultural retardation. Edgerton's book, "The Cloak of Competence," which examines deinstitutionalization and stigma, is analyzed. A final section explores the meanings and causes of sociocultural retardation. (CL)

A study involving 72 managers of restaurants and fast food services indicated that they anticipated significantly more intrusive training for mentally retarded applicants to the position of dishwasher/waiter and significantly more intrusive training for mentally retarded applicants compared to deaf and normal applicants. (CL)

When given a story about either mentally retarded or fast learning children displaying defense mechanistic behavior, 40 retarded students (mean CA 13 years) rated the defensive characteristics higher and liked them more than did 89 nonretarded students matched for CA or MA. (CL)

A study involving 216 retarded and nonretarded 12- to 14-year-olds supported the hypothesis that viewing a peer labeled as retarded or nonretarded affects estimates of one's own recall. Subjects viewing a "retarded" actor estimated their own recall would be higher than subjects viewing the actor as a fast learner. (CL)

This reprint (from a 1961 article) and excerpt (from a 1977 paper) recommend definitions of various terms in the field of mental retardation, such as subaverage, organic retardation, and functional retardation and argue that incidence and prevalence estimates of mental retardation vary so remarkably and change so frequently to fit certain…

Four coping styles demonstrated by mentally retarded adults are postulated: the positive-passive style (high norm orientation with little tendency to get attention); negative-passive style (high tendency to get attention); assertive style (low norm orientation, high stigmatization, and low tendency to get attention); and defensive style (low…

Results revealed that college students were significantly more punitive toward a child labeled "mentally retarded" than were fourth graders, the labeled child received a significantly less severe punishment than did the nonlabeled child, and the child received the most severe punishment when s/he reacted defiantly and obtained a reward when s/he…

Standardized IQ tests which cannot take into account the effects of handicapping conditions such as learning disabilities or hearing impairments can contribute to the mislabeling of children as dull or mildly mentally retarded unless the clinicians are careful to consider this possibility. (PHR)

Three databases were analyzed to investigate the range and frequency of terms in the field of mental retardation/developmental disabilities. The most prevalent term over the last 15 years was "mentally retarded." The terms "cognitive impairment" and "developmental disabilities" have been used more frequently in the last five years. (Author/CR)

This article reviews scientific definitions and social implications of "intelligence" in the context of plans of the American Association on Mental Retardation (AAMR) to rename their organization and the diagnostic category to "intellectual disabilities". It is felt that such a change would associate the AAMR with those…

Randomly selected full time students in a teacher training program (n=102) participated in a study to determine the influence of the label "mentally retarded" and physical attractiveness had on individual judgments of subnormality. (Author/CL)

The experience of the Board of Cooperative Educational Services of suburban Buffalo, New York, belies the beliief that traditional practices of labeling students are necessary to obtain funding of special educational programs. (DB)