Describes chemical model for patterns of aggressive behavior. Addresses cultural, neurobiological, and cognitive factors that affect violent children. Identifies five patterns of aggression (overaroused, impulsive, affective, predatory, and instrumental) and examines these dimensions of aggression for each pattern: baseline, precipitators,…

Presents Life Space Interview, intervention strategy for use during crisis work with troubled students. Describes use of Massaging Numb Values Life Space Interview, developed to help students in crisis who act out but later become overwhelmed by guilt and remorseful about their destructive behavior. Applies technique to case of 14-year-old girl in…

Describes international congress on preventing children's behavior disorders that was attended by 600 participants from throughout Europe and beyond. Discusses topics of presentations which reported several theoretical orientations, problem areas, and intervention strategies. Describes prevention program presented at congress. Concluding remarks…

Presents Life Space Interview (LSI), effective intervention strategy for use during crisis work with troubled students, as it was applied to case of eight-year-old boy attending Option III class for emotionally handicapped students when he accompanied class to mall for holiday shopping trip. Following interview are instructional comments on the…

Describes Green Chimneys, therapeutic residential farm education and treatment center where animals help troubled children and adolescents. Contends that human-animal bond can promote learning and that nurturing animals and receiving back unconditional attention and love reestablishes the worth of the child. Describes residents of the program, a…

Describes reclaiming school as one that empowers each student to experience belonging, mastery, independence, and generosity and that challenges any practice that leads to alienation, futility, impotence, or purposelessness among youth. Spotlights innovative programs of empowering education that redefine the standards for excellence in the…

Interviewed 74 students with behavior disorders (BD) to determine their perceptions of what skills regular and BD teachers need. Students requested that teachers learn to be fair and respect students and to be sensitive to students' feelings and develop counseling skills. Other themes dealt with personal qualities, instructional skills, behavior…

Calls for authentic family-professional collaboration which will develop new visions for children with special needs and new expectations of schools and agencies. Contends that families want to be supported rather than supplanted by professionals and that, if collaboration is to be more than rhetoric, both parties must recognize their rights and…

Notes that many who work with troubled children assume curriculum of control to be necessary. Examines ways in which traditional treatments have fostered greater alienation. Suggests foundations for alternative model rooted in empowerment philosophy rather than obedience. Presents model of youth empowerment based on contemporary developmental…

Considers three treatment approaches when working with children of rage: psychodynamic, behavioral, and peer-group models. Discusses approaches in sequence, following chronology of author's own experiences in psychodynamic, behavioral, and peer-group programs. Illustrates how each approach presents unique pitfalls in practice. (NB)