Examines relationships among prosocial values and three measures of self-efficacy as predictors of delinquency, risky sex, and drug use in a sample of 2,146 racially diverse adolescents. Adolescents with strong prosocial values and self-efficacy reported fewer problem behaviors. Discusses implications for program development and implementation.…

Recounts the case of Lauren, a moderately disabled student suspended for disruptive, aggressive behavior before the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act was amended. The Seventh Court of Appeals upheld the suspension. The majority of such cases have gone against districts, reflecting a relatively high judicial standard of dangerous…

Evaluates the concept of "establishing operation" (EO) in the functional analysis of problem behavior in people with developmental disabilities. Suggestions for detecting "conditioned establishing operations" are offered. Also discusses the development of treatment strategies that seek to modify EOs, extinguish EOs, and modify…

The 1997 Individuals with Disabilities Education Act amendments include discipline-related provisions that expand school officials' authority to deal with disabled students caught with weapons or drugs or exhibiting dangerous behaviors and clarify procedures governing manifestation determination, provision of educational services during…

A study of 124 maltreated children (ages 5-10) examined the way in which they processed social information 12 months following entrance into foster care. Measures reflecting unbiased and competent processing were predictive of social adaptation, whereas measures reflecting biased and incompetent processing were predictive of behavior problems.…

This discussion of positive behavior support for people with disabilities identifies four themes: (1) behavior support should reduce problem behavior and affect how a person lives; (2) functional assessment is the foundation for understanding patterns of problem behavior; (3) behavior support should be comprehensive in structure and scope; and (4)…

Examined how behavior of mothers and preschoolers predicted behavior problems at preschool, first grade, and third grade. Found that maternal negativity was predicted, beyond the child's disruptive behavior, by mothers' perception of low spousal agreement and support related to child problems and depression. Third graders' symptoms and ADHD and…

This regular feature of "Reaching Today's Youth" provides information designed to enable individuals to facilitate one- to two-hour training sessions appropriate for teachers, other professionals, and parents who want to increase their understanding of working effectively with students with challenging behaviors. This volume focuses on specific…

This module provides information designed to enable individuals to facilitate one- to two-hour training sessions appropriate for teachers, other professionals, and parents. It focuses on specific strategies intended to empower students with challenging behaviors to help themselves. It describes service learning, examines factors in developing…

Investigation conducted to link Big-Five personality traits with behavior problems identified in childhood. Results show distinct patterns of behavior problems associated with various personality characteristics. Preliminary data indicate that identifying Big-Five personality trait patterns may be a useful dimension of assessment for understanding…

Parents (N=67) and siblings (N=71) of children with and without learning disabilities (LD) and/or behavior problems were interviewed. The primary indicator of the impact of a child with LD on siblings and parents was whether the child also had behavior problems. Results also indicated that LD children and siblings differed in perceptions of…

A study examined the relation between communication development and aberrant behavior in 13 preschool children with developmental disabilities. There was a strong inverse relation between communication ability and severity of aberrant behavior. Deficits in receptive language were more strongly associated with severe aberrant behavior, particularly…

Explored externalizing behavior problems in suburban Head Start children. Found parents identified almost one-quarter of children as having externalizing problems in the borderline/clinical range, with twice as many girls as boys having borderline/clinical levels of behavior problems. Found children with parent-identified externalizing problems…

This study examined the first year of placement of 61 boys and girls who joined permanent, unrelated families during middle childhood. Most had experienced abuse, neglect and discontinuity in their lives. Psycho-social functioning assessment indicated that a third of the children showed a reduction of problems following adoptive placement. Factors…

At an educational facility for at-risk youth, data on the use of punitive behavior management techniques was gathered before, during, and after staff training in the use of more positive approaches for responding to disruptive behavior. Discusses the shifts from reactive management of disturbing behavior to positive interactions between staff and…