TY - CHAP M1 - Book, Section TI - Chapter 89. Repetitive Behaviors A1 - Sandler, Adrian D. A2 - Rudolph, Colin D. A2 - Rudolph, Abraham M. A2 - Lister, George E. A2 - First, Lewis R. A2 - Gershon, Anne A. PY - 2011 T2 - Rudolph's Pediatrics, 22e AB - Parents often raise concerns about rhythmic and repetitive behaviors such as rocking, head banging, and thumb sucking. Some are common; others are unusual and idiosyncratic. The high prevalence and heterogeneity of repetitive behaviors raise questions about the origins and biological significance of these common pediatric concerns. Learning theorists contend that rhythmic movements begin as normal behaviors that are reinforced over time. If these activities are pleasurable or tension relieving, they tend to be repeated. However, prenatal ultrasounds show the human fetus sucking its thumb by the 28th week of gestation, suggesting that some complex repetitive movements represent genetically coded, species-specific behavior. Observations of picking and grooming behaviors among primates suggest that hair twisting and pulling may originate from social behavior of our human ancestors. SN - PB - The McGraw-Hill Companies CY - New York, NY Y2 - 2024/04/19 UR - accesspediatrics.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=6738566 ER -