Two studies examined children's perceptions of popular and unpopular peers. Findings indicated that fourth- through eighth-graders viewed "liked others" as prosocial and "disliked others" as antisocial, but associated perceived popularity with both prosocial and antisocial behavior. Children described popular peers as…

Reviews methodological problems of previous research on male perpetrators of sexual violence. Discusses the need for a rigorous methodology in defining the extent of the problem. Proposes an aggressive new research agenda that would examine men's prosocial behavior. (KW)

Investigated relationship between children's behavior and the child-rearing climate (future-focused, present-focused, combined) and work climate (relaxed, strained, mixed) at day care centers. Found differences in children's prosocial and collaborative behaviors in centers with future-focused or combined rearing climates and relaxed work climates…

Mothers of normal children used more extreme categories when rating positive aspects of their children than did fathers. Mothers of maladjusted children and female child care workers who rated maladjusted children did not show this difference when compared to fathers or male child care workers. (Author/BB)

Analyzes responses of Brazilian and American students to measures of behavioral intention, perceived norms, and feelings regarding prosocial behaviors in both public and anonymous conditions. Concludes that Brazilians had internalized ingroup norms but that Americans had complied with norms because of social desirability pressures. (FMW)

Most observed conflicts were: (1) brief and lacked aggression; (2) resolved without adult intervention by children's insistence; (3) resulted in winner/loser outcomes; (4) concluded with children remaining together after the conflict. Social interaction before conflicts was unrelated to conflict behaviors other than aggression. (RH)

Compared physically abused children's perceptions of television programing to those of non-abused children. Abused children watched more television than non-abused children, but were less able to name television characters or to identify an aggressive adult TV character they disliked. (Author/BB)

Videorecorded stimuli were used to assess social information processing patterns in 3 domains (peer group entry, response to provocation, and response to authority directive) in 259 first, second, and third graders. Teacher and peer ratings of behavior competence supported the hypothesis that children's behavioral competence is a function of…

Examined effects of emotional communication on preschoolers' emotional competence. Found that the regularities in emotional communication between mothers and their preschool children are associated with variations in the children's emotional competence. In particular, children who witnessed higher level maternal sadness or anger, or responded…

Studied the effect of short-term exposure to neutral, prosocial, and antisocial toys on the prosocial and antisocial behavior of preschool children. Found that prosocial toys elicited prosocial behavior and antisocial toys stimulated antisocial behavior. In response to both prosocial and antisocial toys, boys displayed more physical than verbal…

Assessed preschoolers' peer relations and measured the frequency of parents' and children's initiations of children's play interactions with peers. Frequent parent initiations were associated with high levels of children's prosocial behavior. Children who more often initiated interactions displayed less anxious behavior than children who less…

Studied patterns of behavior and emotional response associated with peer rejection in early adolescence. Obtained data on seventh and eighth graders' loneliness, social dissatisfaction, and concerns. The combination of aggressiveness and submissiveness with low levels of prosocial behavior was associated with peer rejection. (GLR)

Maintains that an environment of trust, protection, and mutual regard allows children to grow in the practice of cooperation, joint problem solving, and positive social behavior. Details ways for teachers to create a democratic and participatory climate, and a community of caring and well-being, in the classroom. (LB)

In two studies, second and sixth graders heard descriptions of hypothetical boys and girls who were either aggressive, socially withdrawn, or prosociable. Subjects' memories of items in the descriptions were assessed. Results indicated that school-age and early adolescent children's recall of information about a peer is affected by the peer's…

Classroom activities for examining effects of war and contemplating world peace are derived from the story of Sadako, a Japanese girl who died as a result of atomic bomb radiation. Making paper cranes, as Sadako did, and participating in schoolwide programs are suggested for primary, middle, and upper grades. (SLD)