This project investigated the effect of a filmed, physically punitive parent model on the behavior of 60 elementary age boys. The total percentage of aggressive responses emitted in doll play was significantly higher for those who viewed the film compared to those who had not. (MS)

Compared family interactions of intact families with clinically depressed mothers with those of normal families. Analyzed nonverbal affective behavior. Depressed mothers emitted significantly higher rates of dysphoric affect and lower rates of happy affect than did normal mothers. Interactions between mother's dysphoric affect and family's…

Assessed differences in self-perceptions, peer perceptions, and attributions of relative responsibility for aggressive and nonagressive boys. Used semantic differential ratings following brief competitive dyadic discussion, and observer ratings. Perceptual and attributional biases operated in social interactions. Unlike nonaggressive boys,…

Argues that the effect of media violence on individual differences in aggression is primarily the result of a cumulative learning process during childhood. Presents a developmental theory holding that a child's repeated viewing of media violence, in combination with other factors, can culminate in aggressive behavior patterns (including…

Describes and evaluates attempts to mitigate effect that watching television violence has on young children. Most relevant studies have been laboratory experiments, and there is no reported evidence that any intervention has been effective over long-term. Concludes that interventions combining cognitive and behavioral approaches have most promise,…

The scope and incidence of school-based aggression, specifically physical and verbal assault, are noted. Interventions discussed include: contingency management (reinforcement, ignoring, response cost, timeout, peer procedures, and aversive consequences) and self-management procedures (social skills training, problem-solving training, and…

Proposes a model of social exchange in children which conceptualizes social behavior as a function of the child's processing of a set of social environmental clues. Reports results of two studies which provide support for a reciprocal influence model of the relation between social information-processing patterns and children's social behavior.…

Discusses a study of children aged eight to nine years who were presenting aggressive behavior, with the aim of facilitating intervention at an early stage. Results of questionnaires given to teachers, the children themselves, their peer group, and parents are examined. Difficulties that arose in undertaking this study are explored. (Author/CT)

Multiple measures of social and cognitive functioning were obtained to investigate whether abused and neglected children demonstrate serious psychological disturbances following instances of child maltreatment. Participants were 42 preschool children who had a previous history of physical abuse, serious neglect, or no maltreatment. (Author/RH)

Followed 1,130 low peer choice children through record sources into young adulthood. Examination of specific childhood problem behavior clusters revealed that childhood aggression, in context of peer rejection, was related significantly to delinquency for males, antisocial diagnosis for both sexes, and differentiated those in the judicial and…

This paper focuses on the structured learning approach to psychological skill training with aggressive adolescents, examining 30 evaluation-oriented studies of skills training with such youth. Emphasized are relevant experimental designs, prescriptive utilization of skills training, means for enhancing trainee motivation, transfer and maintenance,…

Kindergarten children (N=90) were given opportunities to report to their class during "sharing time" the cooperative or friendly behaviors of their peers which had occurred during the day. Cooperative behavior increased and aggressive acts decreased when peers reported prosocial behavior to the class. (Author)

Peer abuse in the form of bullying is now recognised as an endemic feature of school life and in terms of impact, outcomes and intervention requirements can be equated with other forms of child abuse. It is argued in the light of data presented here that the parallels between peer abuse and more generally accepted forms of child abuse must be…

The causes and symptoms of violence among children and adolescents can be complex and difficult to control. A strategy that was designed to help one youth center's staff, volunteers, and members recognize the signs and symptoms of verbal and physical violence is described here. The youth facility is located in a crime-ridden part of an urban…

This paper reviews the assessment measures developed to recognize nonviolent dispositions. Based on computer searches of the Psychological Abstracts (PsychLit) database, the document identifies the best measures for assessing nonviolence such as: (1) The Nonviolence Test developed by Kool and Sen (1984); (2) the Gandhian Personality Scale…