Children who handle stress well tend to be self-confident while those who don't are vulnerable and lack coping skills. Descriptions of capable and vulnerable children are listed, and a technique for helping to build positive feelings is offered. (DF)

The booklet provides background information on the diagnosis and characteristics of autism. A chart portrays the signs and symptoms, followed by the definition of the syndrome by the National Society For Children and Adults with Autism. Associated features are noted along with information on age of onset, etiology, incidence and sex ratio,…

This article examines a definition of giftedness that emphasizes asynchronous development and analyzes archival data collected on 535 high-IQ children in Australia. It found five patterns of behavior that provide evidence of asynchronous development: anxious; self-critical; overly sensitive; easily upset; and easily frustrated; with depression…

Considerable attention has been paid to the question of whether altruism increases with age through the years of childhood and early adolescence. The relationship between age and helping was examined for 128 boys and 128 girls in the first experiment. A second sample of an additional 256 participants was then studied to investigate factors which…

This report presents both a framework for understanding positive factors that contribute to the healthy development of young people, termed "developmental assets," and a portrait of 6th-to-12th-grade youth based on that framework. The report analyzes and interprets data from 99,462 youth in 213 communities collected during the 1996-97 school year.…

This review of the literature on the "only child" indicates that the single child is likely to be oriented more toward adults than towards peers, to be subjected more to an adult culture, to be an achiever who strikes out on his own, and to have a heightened sense of responsibility compared with children who have siblings. Statistics…

Examined the role of difficult temperament or behavioral style and tobacco, alcohol, and marijuana use in the 133 subjects of the New York Longitudinal Study. Results indicated that the possession of difficult temperamental characteristics at age five and in early adulthood are associated with drug use in young adulthood. (JAC)

The literature suggests that children steadily move away from egocentric thought and acquire more effective interpersonal skills as they age, but at puberty a new egocentrism makes self-disclosure difficult. To develop an adequate behavioral measure of self-disclosure, 16 situations were described to children aged 8, 11, and 14 years old, who then…

Results showed a number of significant developmental changes in students' nonverbal communication as perceived by teachers. (PD)

Analyzes the way fairy tales reflect and clarify real-life situations, human behavior, and moral values, enabling children to contemplate powerful and urgent themes. (GT)

Theories and research findings relating to the development, treatment, and effects of communication apprehension (CA) are presented in this paper. The first section, which traces the etiology and development of CA, posits a relationship between environment, personality constellations, and CA. A section on treatment of CA reviews and compares three…

Children's emotional development from infancy through adolescence, is described through brief anedcotes and through photographs. Psychological explanations of child behavior are discussed. Children's reactions to parents, siblings, and peers, and to experiences such as pain, discovering one's body, eating, exploring, and visiting the doctor are…

This monograph examines the issue of school violence and the ways to eliminate it. The goal is to return schools to their status as safe havens for children to learn, achieve, and acquire the skills they need to become successful and productive adults. Section I defines school violence and reviews data on its prevalence. Section II discusses…

Reviews the definition and demographics of homeless students; the effects of homelessness on developmental, psychological, behavioral, and academic growth; the legal mandates regarding homeless students; and barriers to education. Recommendations for fostering success for homeless students are offered. (Author/DB)

Research into children's responses to constructive and aggressive behavior in a television drama is provided. This study is also reported in related document SO 008 573. A 22-minute action-adventure television program depicting an intense interpersonal conflict was edited into two versions. In one version the hero responded with physical…