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disorder of written expression

in DSM–IV–TR, a learning disorder in which writing skills are substantially below those expected for a person’s chronological age, education, and measured intelligence. The writing difficulties—which may involve errors in grammar, punctuation, and paragraph organization, often combined with extremely poor handwriting and spelling errors—significantly interfere with academic achievement and activities of daily living that require writing skills. In DSM–5, the disorder has been subsumed within a category labeled specific learning disorder and is no longer considered a distinct diagnosis. Also called developmental dysgraphia.

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Psychology term of the day

January 29th 2025

group climate

group climate

the relative degree of acceptance, tolerance, and freedom of expression that characterizes the relationships within a counseling or therapy group. Interpersonal behavioral boundaries are generally freer and broader than in nontherapeutic social contexts, and the meaning of interpersonal behavior is often the specific focus of group discussion.