Investigated the development of inattentiveness and hyperactivity in middle childhood through a prospective study that followed 191 children from birth through age 11. In early childhood, quality of caregiving better predicted distractibility, an early precursor of hyperactivity, than did early biological or temperament factors. Caregiving and…

Genetics, family dysfunction, separation/loss, learning disabilities, and lack of social support in school place adolescents at risk for depression. The article shares evidence that documents a link between structured cooperative learning and the resulting stronger social support relationships that evolve as peers help support, respect, and trust…

Describes significant differences between the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) III-R and the DSM-IV. Focuses on the types of mental disorders counselors frequently diagnose and treat. These include several disorders included in the children's section as well as Adjustment Disorders, Substance-Related Disorders, and…

Reviews previous research on attitudes toward war. Describes a study of undergraduate student attitudes toward war compared with personality traits. Finds that, although personality traits were only minimally associated with attitudes toward war, men were more prowar then women. (CFR)

Examined cognitive-behavioral (health-belief, social cognitive, peer support), risk-taking, and stress/coping models as predictors of safer sex practices among 136 gay/bisexual males, ages 14-19. Components of the health-belief, self-efficacy theories, and emotional distress models corresponded with safer sex practices; peer support was not…

This study identified early conditions of successful adults, via a historical analysis of psychological traits and childhood environments of 38 notable 20th-century American women writers. The study rated multiple traits and conditions representing cognitive, affective, familial, and educational aspects. Results focus on the degree of persistence…

Investigated the extent to which individual differences in attachment may be related to clients' perception of the working alliance. Working alliance ratings were collected from participants (n=60) immediately after their third counseling session. Found a significant association between the depend dimension of attachment and client working…

Presents results of a study developing an informal social skills teacher rating scale for use with early adolescents. Reports that the scale includes skill identification and situational analysis. Provides information on identifying and ranking responses and checking a content validity and reliability. Concludes that the matrix can generate…

Cooperating teachers' ratings (using student rating forms) of teaching interns were studied, focusing on characteristics considered as strengths and qualities that make an intern outstanding. Results from cooperating teachers for 60 intern elementary school and secondary school teachers identified valued personal characteristics. Interpersonal…

Using an experimental design that avoided some methodological difficulties of earlier studies, this study found a relationship between harsh parental discipline and kindergarten children's aggression. This relationship was apparently not a result of confounding factors such as child temperament, SES, and marital violence. (BC)

A test with 1,446 high school students in Israel of a multidimensional model of adolescent drug use that incorporates sociodemographic variables, personality variables, cognitive variables, interpersonal factors, and the availability of drugs validated the model longitudinally. Results suggest that different legal and illegal substances share a…

Examines how the principles and virtues of Confucianism holistically meet moral education's requirements. Discusses justice, equality, and truthfulness as Confucian principles and the character virtues (wisdom, courage, compassion, and love) necessary for living the moral life. Stresses understanding motive, arguing that the moral person desires…

Lilian Katz is director of ERIC Clearinghouse on Elementary and Early Childhood Education, professor at University of Illinois, and, in 1992, was elected president of National Association for Education of Young Children (NAEYC). Discussed are her background, early childhood teacher preparation, students' and teachers' dispositions, Montessori…

Analyzed male and female adolescents' perceptions of parental behavior in allowances, gifts, use of family car, curfew, and chores. Gender-equal behavior, as evinced by allowances and gift giving toward sons and daughters, was less evident in curfews and chores. Subjects' perspectives indicate that parents perpetuate stereotypical gender roles.…

Discusses three different approaches to child rearing: autocratic, anarchic, and democratic. Maintains that the use of each approach results in the development of a particular kind of character and behavior in the child. Also discusses John Dewey's efforts to define democratic character and his experiments with teacher attempts to develop this…