We conducted a systematic review of research involving K-12 students that examined associations among individual differences factors (e.g., working memory) and intertextual integration. We identified 25 studies published in 23 peer-reviewed journal articles and two dissertations/theses. These examined a wide range of individual difference factors,…

Individuals diagnosed with head and neck cancer (HNC) not only face a potentially life-threatening diagnosis but must endure treatment that often results in significant, highly visible disfigurement and disruptions of essential functioning, such as deficits or complications in eating, swallowing, breathing, and speech. Each year, approximately…

Reviews research on four dimensions of temperament: positive emotionality/approach, fear, irritability/frustration, and attentional persistence. Applies knowledge of temperament to teachers' approaches to children's mastery motivation, fear of novelty, and ego-based anxiety. Argues that educators' training should include understanding of…

Discusses the potential role of temperament dimensions for the development of mother-infant attachment relations as measured by the Strange Situation Assessment. (HOD)

Examines strategies for studying individual differences in infant behavior from the standpoints of the distinction between individual differences and developmental function and the need to study change with multivariate techniques. These themes are applied to the study of mental development, behavior genetics, temperament, and attachment. (RJC)

Cognitive Flexibility (availability in the individual's repertoire of various strategies and ability to select those most effective to the required task) is suggested as an important individual-difference variable. Some methodological problems in the assessment of cognitive flexibility as related to human memory are discussed. (Editor/SJL)

Reviews significant recent research and information related to the beginning period of human life, and specifically discusses the developing fetus and infant, and the surrounding environment in which the infant is born and reared. Suggestions for prevention of mental-health problems are offered. (Author/DB)

Noting that researchers, practitioners, and families are increasingly interested in the roles fathers play in raising their children, this doctoral research paper reviews the interpersonal and external factors involved in attachment development between fathers and their children. Methodological considerations include pertinent definitions,…

Reviews and critiques research that has assessed the effect of infant temperament on caregiver behaviors and concludes that the relationship between temperament and caregiving behavior has not been adequately tested. Offers conceptual and methodological guidelines for future research. (HOD)

Literature is reviewed on the personality dimensions of gifted individuals, focusing on: differences between gifted individuals and same-age non-gifted individuals, differences between gifted individuals and older non-gifted individuals, differences between gifted males and gifted females, and differences between gifted achievers and…

Reviews evidence on reliability and validity of the Children's Behavior Questionnaire (CBQ); presents CBQ data on structure of temperament in childhood. Factor analyses indicate three broad dimensions of temperament: extroversion/surgency, negative affectivity, and effortful control. This factor structure also appears in ratings of children in…

Reviews the research that has tested the "goodness of fit" model of temperament-context relations and proposes that research aimed at testing this model should examine how inter-individual differences in interactions between children and their contexts over time establish correlations between individuals and their settings. (HOD)

Deidentification is the phenomenon whereby siblings are defined as different or contrasting. In pathological deidentification, the natural flow of sibling conflict and reconciliation seems obstructed as one sibling is assigned the fixed identity of "devil," who constantly harasses the other, "angel," sibling. A clinical…

Siblings are far more likely to be different than alike in personality and psychopathology. Different genes and different environmental experiences can account for why one sibling becomes mentally ill and another is not affected. Environmental experiences play a much greater role in sibling differentiation than has been previously recognized.…

Poor social skills of children with serious learning disabilities may be more limiting than their academic deficits. This paper reviews the social and behavioral issues related to social status, self-control, problem-solving behavior, student-teacher relationships, language and communication skills, individual temperament differences, and learning…