A suburban Pennsylvania school district is increasingly using family group conferences to address incidents of misconduct and violence. Through a reintegrative shaming process, family group conferences allow offenders to face their victims, move past their inappropriate behavior, discard the offender label, make amends, and return to the community…

Tells efforts by Pearland Independent School District (Texas) school board and superintendent to adopt a standardized dress code, an effort that led to student and community opposition and controversy. Describes lessons learned. (PKP)

Investigates the extent to which actor-partner points of view influence the outcomes of conflict messages on perceptions of communicator appropriateness, effectiveness, and global competence. Finds support for the attributional approach used to explain actor-observer judgments of actors' communicative competence. (MG)

In the 1990s, conflict management is a basic concern of university administrators. Memories of bloody campus confrontations in the 1970s persist, and institutions are reviewing policies on dissent and seeking more appropriate responses to student concerns about racism, tuition increases, gay rights, abortion, and the environment. (MSE)

Challenges inhibiting forms of individualistic competition and presents use of cooperative learning as an effective method for conflict resolution and interpersonal skill building. Sees cooperative approach for classroom use as both developmental and ongoing. (Author/NB)

Reviews studies which have explored how counselor trainees respond to client anger and assessed the effectiveness of techniques for teaching counselor trainees how to respond to client anger. Discusses the implications of this review for future research. (Author)

Examines how actors' goals, gender, and locus of control affect conflict strategy behaviors. Classifies goals into proactive and reactive categories. Finds that distributive strategies were used more for reactive goals of defending rights and integrative tactics more for the proactive goal of changing relationships. (SR)

Studied cultural differences in conflicts between parents and adolescents in 40 Australian families (20 of whom were Greek-born) and 40 Greek families. Cultural variation in response to conflict was not extensive. (RJC)

Vocational ethics instruction is education that develops an enabling work ethic. Small group discussion activities can promote values assessment for ethical choices, mediation skills for conflict resolution, and reasoning skills for recognizing and solving ethical problems. (SK)

Interpersonal problem solving (IPS) is often difficult for learning disabled students. Two model IPS interventions, an elementary and a secondary, are described. Key components in both models include alternative and consequential thinking, skills implementation, and a "stop and think" approach to problem resolution. (Author/DB)

Examined the responses of 24 children (7- to 9-year olds) and 24 adolescents (13- to 15-year olds) to analogs of marital conflict scenarios varying in initial conflict themes and the emotionality of endings. Found that explicit verbal resolution of conflict issues was not necessary for reducing children's emotional insecurity; changes in the…

Reviews the articles on peer and intrafamily conflict in this issue, focusing on ways in which conflict in these two different settings might be related to one another. Notes that although conflict-resolution styles may carry over to some extent from conflict among family members to conflict among peers, there are some important differences. (MDM)

Notes that our capacity to diffuse conflict rests in our ability to recognize and verbalize feelings, develop empathy, and think of alternatives to violence. Explores the influence of role models and culture on violence and how the media can use violent images effectively in helping us confront a culture of violence. (HTH)

Although humor may be a key element in successful programs, little sophistication has been shown in understanding the various roles humor may play in helping troubled students. This report provides specific instances and practical examples of how humor might be used to provide education for troubled students. Draws on anecdotes and scenarios…

Research on resilience suggests that a sense of humor helps to stress-proof children in conflict. Reports on a workshop for educators and youth workers convened to explore ways humor is being used to foster positive development and resilience with troubled youth. Describes applications of humor front-line professionals report as useful in their…