IB Prized Writing Sevenoaks School IB Prized Writing 2014 | Page 69

Megan Critchlow - Psychology appears appears to to be be most most successful successful in in improving improving appropriate appropriate behaviours. behaviours. Applying Applying mindful mindful parenting parenting (Singh, (Singh, N. N. et et al, al, 2006) 2006) to to autistic autistic children children over over a a period period of of 64 64 weeks weeks improved improved participants participants behaviours behaviours significantly significantly for for example example one one participant’s participant’s aggressive aggressive behaviours behaviours decreased decreased by by 88% 88% as as apposed apposed to to social social stories stories intervention’s intervention’s decreasing decreasing aggressive aggressive behaviours behaviours by by 56% 56% and and 35% 35% respectively respectively (Swaggart (Swaggart et et al. al. (1995), (1995), cited cited by by Sansosti Sansosti et et al al (2004)). (2004)). During During both both these these studies studies a a small small sample sample size size was was used used therefore therefore it it is is difficult difficult to to accurately accurately claim claim that that mindful mindful parenting parenting is is more more successful successful at at reducing reducing aggressive aggressive behaviour behaviour than than social social stories. stories. Finally Finally the the using using thought-bubble thought-bubble training training appeared appeared to to be be the the worst worst for for improving improving autistic autistic children’s children’s Theory Theory of of Mind. Mind. Using Using a a Theory Theory of of Mind Mind scale scale out out of of 5, 5, Paynter Paynter J. J. and and Peterson Peterson C.C. C.C. (2012) (2012) found found that that autistic autistic children children only only improved improved from from 2.71 2.71 to to 3.33 3.33 at at a a follow follow up up test. test. However However they they additionally additionally studied studied autistic autistic children children also also involved involved in in other other interventions interventions who who managed managed to to increase increase from from 2.00 2.00 to to 4.11 4.11 in in a a post-test post-test evaluation. evaluation. This This is is a a prime prime example example of of where where synthesising synthesising training training methods methods is is the the best best option, option, as as in in this this case case other other interventions interventions are are evidently evidently complimentary complimentary to to the the thought-bubble thought-bubble method. method. Overall Overall it it appears appears that that all all the the interventions interventions I I have have looked looked at at would would benefit benefit from from synthesising synthesising with with other other training training methods. methods. For For example example autistic autistic children children involved involved with with the the transporters, transporters, which which only only focuses focuses on on the the ability ability to to recognise recognise and and apply apply emotions, emotions, would would benefit benefit from from social social stories stories training training which which targets targets decreasing decreasing negative negative behaviours. behaviours. This This synthesising synthesising approach approach would would improve improve a a vaster vaster range range of of areas areas of of the the Theory Theory of of Mind, Mind, to to a a greater greater extent extent than than one one training training method method is is able able to to achieve. achieve. A A developed developed Theory Theory of of Mind Mind improving improving real real life life situations situations I I am am now now going going to to be be looking looking at at how how the the empirical empirical evidence evidence of of the the effectiveness effectiveness of of the the three three different different interventions, interventions, social social stories, stories, thought-bubble thought-bubble training training and and mind mind reading reading DVDs DVDs such such as as the the transporters, transporters, can can translate translate into into real real life life situations. situations. This This will will 68 11