One-child households have doubled over the last two decades making it one of the fastest growing family units in America. The author aids families in understanding the common traits of many adult "onlies"--like shyness, perfection, and intolerance--so that they can better prepare for potential outcomes. He also celebrates the positive qualities of…

The article discusses eight psychosocial barriers to career achievement of gifted girls, including women's self-hatred, the socialized need for affiliation, and the motherhood mandate. (CL)

Gifted youths frequently misunderstand what giftedness actually means in their lives, hold unrealistically high expectations for their own achievement, confuse the means and the ends of their accomplishments, overvalue their cognitive dimensions at the expense of their affective natures, or view giftedness as an entitlement. (Author/CL)

Similarities between severe learning disabilities and higher-level autism are seen to include uneven profiles, language difficulties, social and interpersonal deficits, and cognitive disorganization. Among differences are relatedness and play interests. Benefits of viewing the two conditions as overlapping on a continuum are noted. (CL)

Considerations in seeking mentors for gifted students are outlined and such desirable characteristics as genuine interest in sharing expertise, enthusiasm, and optimism are cited. School staff and fellow students are suggested as possible mentors. (CL)

In a discussion of youthful suicide, the physical and emotional changes experienced by adolescents are evidenced as among the causes producing pain which may lead to suicide in some cases. Societal factors which may contribute to adolescent suicide are described. Suggestions for prevention are put forward. (Author/CL)

The article reviews characteristics of early, middle, and late adolescence in terms of self-concept, peer relations, and emotional development and notes special problems (such as defense mechanisms, depression, and drug abuse) that professionals face in working with adolescents. (CL)

The article examines patterns of adolescent development believed to exist among both normal and gifted students and cites issues rising from clinical and research studies, including recognition and ownership of giftedness, tension between one's performance and expectations, and low tolerance for ambiguity. (CL)

Trends in delinquency are summarized and principles for treating violent adolescents are considered. Four major trends are identified: (1) an increase in violent crimes committed by juveniles, (2) a decrease in intact nuclear families of delinquents, (3) an increase in voluntary separation (divorce or abandonment rather than death) of parents, and…

The author discusses the educational and psychological characteristics of adolescents and young adults with learning disabilities, specific assessment practices which have been implemented to evaluate this target population, current educational programs available, and a representative sample of the empirical research conducted on the adolescent…

The booklet is based on information from a 1984 conference on school-age latchkey children (those who take care of themselves during the out-of-school hours). An introduction notes controversies in terminology and focuses the discussion on what self-care means to the experiences of childhood. The first two chapters discuss the impact that having…

Problems inherent in the process of identifying creativity in children are considered. Parallels in determining basketball talent through observation, tryout games, and identification of selected characteristics are drawn. Examples of creativity checklists and self-report inventories are given. (CL)

Describes a creative approach to teaching the application of crisis theory to nursing students. Students experience crisis themselves, evaluate their own and others' coping mechanisms, and learn to recognize the various physical and psychological symptoms of people in crisis. (Author/CT)

Two new techniques that were used with a group of seven blind, multiply handicapped young adults in a half-way house are described. Structured learning therapy is a social skills training technique and group assessment is a method of averaging psychological data on a group of clients to facilitate program planning based on client needs.…

Describes a family therapy treatment for child sexual abuse. Three stages of treatment, noncommittal or oppositional, middle, and resolution stage, are outlined. Treatments for offender, victim and nonoffending parent are explained. (DG)