A formal model of social norms with multiple equilibria is estimated using data from the Add-Health Survey of 20,000 U.S. high school students. The results suggest that there is considerable diversity in social norm equilibria, with only some schools enforcing norms against sexual activity.

While working to comply with standards for academic skills prescribed by the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB), educators must not lose sight of their equally important responsibility to teach social skills. A set of appropriate social skills is one of the most critical elements for well-rounded individuals capable of full participation in a…

In this article, EP Magazine announces its adoption of the concept of positive behavioral support prohibiting the use of aversives and restraints on citizens with special needs. The concept lies in the belief that citizens with special needs, like citizens everywhere, deserve respect, dignity and humane treatment in every aspect of their in every…

Neil Postman has challenged many educators throughout his career to think critically and broadly about the roles language plays in human behavior and society. His influence on English education has brought a humanistic perspective to the field, which is otherwise dominated by social sciences.

Background: Theory of Mind (TOM) has rarely been studied in people with intellectual disabilities. Wherever it has been studied, differing results have been found. These may be attributed to a variety of factors (e.g. the different chronological ages of samples). The validity of relating TOM performance to social behaviour has also been questioned…

This article deals with a study that helped reveal the influence of the religious factor on the consciousness, intentions, expectations, and social behavior of young Russians. In this article, the author discusses the rising popularity of religion and its increasingly stronger role and influence, and the increasing secularization, worldview…

Given the need to compete for sponsored research funding, do university faculty believe they retain the freedom to research what is of most interest to them? The higher education literature frequently asserts that faculty research agendas are being subjugated to the demands of sponsors. An alternate perspective, from the science studies…

Drawing on a range of sources in the history of play, this article discusses how play for all ages mirrors social change, especially but not exclusively in America. The article explores three broad themes from colonial times to the present: first, how play was shaped by changes in work and time at work; second, how play activities were transformed…

The purposes of the present study were to develop and validate a mood scale measure for elementary grade school children. Graduate students generated a sampling of mood state items, 30 to use in a pilot study and 60 to use in a study to develop and validate this scale. Ratings were obtained on five point scale choices on each of the items from a…

This article is a personal faculty perspective regarding academic accreditation. It describes the psychological process and consequences of losing accreditation. Compton Community College was one of the oldest community colleges in California and has served a diverse population of students for over 50 years. As a result of severe administrative…

Earlier intervention improves outcomes for children with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs), but existing identification tools are at the limits of standardization with 18-month-olds. We assessed potential behavioural markers of ASD at 18 months in a high-risk cohort of infant siblings of children with ASD. Prospective data were collected using the…

The purpose of this study was to examine the social participation of young children with disabilities in inclusive preschool programs. One hundred forty-three preschool-aged children with disabilities were observed in classrooms representing four organizational contexts: community-based, Head Start, public school, and blended. Children's and…

In this study, the side effects of contingent shock (CS) treatment were addressed with a group of nine individuals, who showed severe forms of self-injurious behavior (SIB) and aggressive behavior. Side effects were assigned to one of the following four behavior categories; (a) positive verbal and nonverbal utterances, (b) negative verbal and…

One route to uncovering schooling's goals for an improved citizenry is to track certain subjects of the compulsory curriculum. In this case, health is investigated, and especially its messages on smoking and drinking. First introduced as scientific temperance instruction (in the 1880s), renamed hygiene (from about 1910), then as health (from the…

Objective: Autistic disorder (AD) and Williams syndrome (WS) are neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by contrasting abnormal social behavior (the former, socially avoidant; the latter, outwardly social); nonetheless, there are individuals with WS who display some behaviors that are characteristic of AD. We quantified the extent to which…