Abstract
The purrose of this study is to shape the group activity through the behavior therapeutic trainings. The trainings would be designed to make up interaction with autistics and to make understanding of rules in playing under the group setting. The group was constructed with six preschool children who had been treated in the clinic under the individual setting behavioristically. Although they had modified in learning attitude, problem solving, and communicating to some extent, they did still remain other problems such as inability of playing with others. Three of six were diagnosed as autistic children. In the study, three autistics are analysed with the process of behavior modification through the group training. The group trainings were designed as follow; 1). Duration : May, 1977-December, 1977 (19 sessions). 2). Task; Main task-a tug of war, "playing train". sub task-1. action imitation 2. running 3. cirkit 4. rhythmic play 5. free play. 3). Recording: 1. Writing down each child's behavior by two persons. 2. Recording by the tape recorder. The results were as follow; 1). Action imitation The proportion of correct performances in action imitation had increased in all of the three autistics. Especially, Case-T showed a great progress in 7th-13th sessions. 2). A tug of war The levels of achievement were evaluated by the performance level of the rules described below; i) Starting with the sign to begin, ii) Tugging backwards, iii) Tugging up to the endline, iv) Understanding win and lose, v) Cheering adequately. Case-Thad become to be able to understand all rules well, Case-K only the rules i), ii), iii), and Case-Y not at all. 3). "Playing Train" All of the three cases was able to take and play their roles adequately and actively, such as driver and passenger. As a result, the child who comprehended the rules was appeared not only to participate actively in playing of a tug of war, but also to modify his intersonal behaviors. But the children who was unable to comprehend the rules were not appeared to modify their general behaviors. The difference between the former and the latter seemed to be due to the level of achievement of action imitation. It was suggested that the training of imitation would be needed in order to facilitate this kind of activities before. And it should be also considered that the program should be made on the basis of the level of child development. "Playing train" appeared to be a suitable program to learn the rules or roles of play in autistics, but unable to make some modification in their interpersonal behaviors.
