Interview responses of 72 fifth-, eighth-, and eleventh-graders revealed developmental changes in the scope and nature of perceived peer influence and in the extent to which peer group reactions have an impact on self-evaluations. Developmental changes in the apparent reference-group functions of peer groups for adolescent identity formation are…

Reviews research on effects of childhood sexual abuse in adulthood. Describes individualizing assessment of adults who have been abused and aspects of treatment illustrated by case studies. Concludes social workers need to expand definition of childhood sexual abuse. (ABL)

Criticizes the application of the statistical procedures of the population-genetic approach within evolutionary biology to the study of psychological development. Argues that the application of the statistical methods of population genetics--primarily the analysis of variance--to the causes of psychological development is bound to result in a…

Argues that Gottlieb rejects population sampling and statistical analyses of distributions as he proposes that his experimental brand of mechanistic science is the only legitimate approach to developmental research. Maintains that Gottlieb exaggerates developmental uncertainty, based on his own research with extreme environmental manipulations.…

Argues that a truly developmental behavior genetics will have to go beyond the traditional quantitative approach of population genetics in order to produce developmental explanatory content about differences and similarities in developmental outcomes. (MDM)

Living with cultural diversity does not require that we admire each other but that we afford each other, as members of a democratic society, the freedom to pursue a life of personal growth, joy, spontaneity, and resistance to fear and ignorance. Developing such an enlightened acceptance requires careful education. (MSE)

Connects the imagination with one's affective states as related to 8- to 15-year-old students' engagement in a story or narrative. Discusses particular characteristics of narratives that engage students' imagination during these years and characteristics that are imaginatively engaging but in which the narrative component is less prominent. (BB)

Describes success counseling, a counseling approach based on the principles of William Glasser's control theory and reality therapy that helps campers examine their wants and needs, evaluate their own behaviors, and see the connections between behavior and the ability to meet basic needs for love, power, fun, and freedom. Provides examples of…

In addition to regular training, workers learn from and during work itself. Organizational change affects the learning potential of jobs. The challenge consists in integrating personal development and organizational development. (SK)

Lifelong employability requires radical change in attitudes and educational systems. Business-education collaboration should be aimed at preparation for adult and working life. The Foundation for increased commitment to independent learning should be laid. Individuals should have access to opportunities to reflect on experience, review progress,…

This brief article stresses that the search for omnibus social and emotional needs that cut across all gifted children is misguided and that differences in needs are likely a function of the relationship between the individual child's talents and social interactions within the communities of the child's world. (DB)

Provides background on Schweder et al. article in this issue (PS 523 069), noting that its general concern is with the ways in which cultural practices and principles are interrelated. Notes that developmental questions are not in the foreground of the paper mentioned; the study covers instead adults' accounts as a way to articulate the principles…

In rural Auglaize County, Ohio, adolescent mothers receive home visits in which their parenting needs are assessed, an individualized curriculum is taught, and information about community resources and services is provided. Of 233 teens referred, 164 completers significantly increased parenting knowledge and behavior as well as use of community…

Proposes parallels between gay, lesbian, and bisexual identity development and the professional development of nonheterosexual affirmative heterosexual career counselors. This perspective gives a developmental framework for understanding the changing feelings and behaviors that accompany the professional, personal, and political growth of…

This study sought to identify differences between 100 randomly selected Adult Children of Alcoholics (ACOA) and nonACOAs attending a black university. The ACOAs reported significantly more drinking problems and less healthy family environments and social support than nonACOAs, but no difference in mastery of developmental tasks like autonomy,…