Describes journal writing as a way to actively engage students in learning about personality theories. Evaluates whether journals increased student learning by comparing test grades from two classes: one with assigned journals, the other without. Reports on students' responses on a questionnaire addressing journal writing. Discusses the findings…

A study compared 27 participants with Angelman syndrome to clinical and community participants (n=948) with developmental disabilities of mixed etiology to determine whether Angelman syndrome is associated with a distinctive patterns of behavioral functioning. Those with Angelman syndrome had significantly lower scores on measures of irritability…

Examines the impact of migration on the personality and character formation of migrant children in comparison with native-school children. Of migrant children, finds a drop in school-related self-confidence and a short-term interruption of personality stablization. Patterns of student characteristics, grades, and achievement tests demonstrate…

Examined validity of the California Attachment Procedure (CAP), which does not involve mother-child separations. Overall, toddlers were more likely to be classified as secure in the CAP than in the Strange Situation (SS) test. The CAP yielded higher rates of security, particularly for children in day care, and security in the CAP correlated more…

This paper highlights the scientific rationale and research base for Life Space Crisis Intervention, a psychoeducational model used with aggressive children. The model draws from a broad theory base to meet the diverse needs of troubled children. The method necessitates forming an alliance with youth and sees problems as opportunities for teaching…

This article describes a continuum of definitions of giftedness from conservative to liberal and discusses how these definitions relate to the development of the 3-ring conception of giftedness. In this definition, above average ability, task commitment, and creativity are seen as 3 interactive clusters of traits that gifted students may exhibit.…

Explores the relevance of gender to social work practice in the middle school by examining three domains of importance to young adolescents: academic achievement, puberty and sexuality, and mental health. Suggests that a systemic perspective on those difficulties that asks serious questions about puberty and gender is vitally important. (Contains…

Explored the interpersonal identity development during early adolescence. Findings revealed that 55% of the sample fell into one of the four discrete identity status categories, with 62% of this group classified as either diffused or foreclosed. Findings reflect the emergent and/or transitional nature of interpersonal identity development during…

Investigated relations between sex, social status, and temperament among preschool-age children. Found that rejected children had a higher activity level, higher distractibility, and lower persistence than popular children. Both rejected and neglected children were rated as displaying lower adaptability and more negative mood than popular…

This study evaluates the ability of the hopelessness theory of depression's etiological chain to account for this relation in a sample of 297 undergraduates. Results indicated that emotional, but not physical or sexual, maltreatment was uniquely related to average levels of suicidal ideation across a 2.5-year follow-up. (Author)

In view of Kohlberg's theory of moral development, two hypotheses were considered: individuals who consider use of illegal substances to be morally wrong will be less likely to use such substances; and, compared to those who are less mature, more mature moral reasoners display more consistency between expressed beliefs about morality of drug use…

Uses the Cross model of Black identity development as a framework for discussion of the developmental stages of American-Indian identity: pre-encounter, encounter, immersion/emersion, and internalization. Discusses identity conflicts encountered in various scenarios related to biracial or bicultural status, adoptions, mixed-race families, parent…

Compares the family-of-origin perceptions of doctoral psychotherapists in training with doctoral students in other social science fields. Results indicate differences in family-of-origin perceptions between the two groups on measures of family cohesion, adaptability, and family satisfaction. Implications for clinical training are discussed.…

Data from the Myers Briggs Type Indicator and classroom observations of 22 secondary industrial and health occupations teachers found the majority to be extraverted-sensing-thinking-judging types. Only 41% were effective teachers. The sensing-intuitive type was the best predictor of teaching effectiveness. (SK)

Examined associations between early childhood temperament and factors during mothers' pregnancy. Responses to maternal questionnaires of psychological distress during pregnancy and maternal observations of infants at 6 months and 5 years of age indicated a connection between first-trimester distress and negative emotionality in 5-year-old…