This essay takes the form of a dialog between the human "Self" and a questioner and explores the nature of individual self-consciousness, the Freudian model of the self, the development of the self in early childhood, the importance of parents in the self's development, and special problems of self-awareness in gifted students. (DB)

Examines how parents and teachers influence the development of gender differences in mathematics strategy use in the first grade. Conducts interviews with children about their strategy use and uses questionnaires with parents and teachers. Reports that boys correctly used retrieval during the first grade more than girls; girls correctly used overt…

Examines relationships among parents' age, education, literacy activities and shared reading with children, and children's language skills and early interest in books through a longitudinal study of 108 preschool children. Discusses the role of endogenous and exogenous variables in explaining children's language skills and early book reading…

Using data from a national longitudinal survey, a study explored factors predisposing students from single- and two-parent families to pursue postsecondary education and identified implications for enrollment managers and researchers. Results indicate that, although parents play the most pivotal role for each group of students, mothers are of…

Examined whether parenting and child characteristics of term and preterm 2- and 3.5-year-olds had common paths of influence on children's independent cognitive and social functioning at age 4.5 years. Found that high levels of mothers' maintaining children's interests across these ages supported later independence, but directiveness needed to…

Examined the relationship between parents' educational expectations for their adolescents and adolescents' expectations, using data from the National Education Longitudinal Study of 1988, specifically the 1992-1994 panel samples. Participants were high school seniors in 1992. Results indicated that fathers and mothers equally influenced…

Reviews the literature on young children's peer social development. Addresses implications of social learning theory and empirical research. Discusses recurring themes, including child/peer versus child/adult interactions, incorporation of toys and games, influence of mothers, and gender peer preferences. Considers areas lacking empirical support…

Analysis of data from the Iowa Youth and Families Project establishes that parents' social involvement is a source of social capital for their children. Rural children's connection to a civic culture and their involvement in community groups are encouraged by parental social participation and further enhanced by parents' ties to farming. (Contains…

Investigated child care usage and factors behind parental choices for four-year olds prior to formal education. Parent interviews revealed that many children spent time in a range of early care and educational services, and many also participated in extracurricular and recreational activities. Revealed the complexity parents face in balancing work…

Study used self-report questionnaire data from high school students to determine the relation between adolescents' perception of family characteristics and adolescent substance use patterns. Results indicate adolescents' perception of maternal substance use, family hardiness, and age of the adolescent were significant predictors of substance use.…

Describes the characteristics of a multifaceted approach to violence prevention, Students for Peace, which was introduced in four, urban middle schools in Texas. Components consist of modification of the school environment, introduction of a violence-prevention curriculum, use of peer resources, and parent education. Barriers to implementation are…

Used a latent trait-state model to study aspects of maternal and adolescent depressed mood. Found that maternal depression was predicted by lower family income, lower family cohesion, lower perceived social support, and higher parental role stress. Found that adolescent-trait depression was predicted by lower perceived family support, lower grade…

Causal modeling techniques applied to data from 791 college students showed that parental encouragement in math and science significantly influenced achievement, which in turn influenced self-efficacy and outcome expectations. Results supported the role of family context in Lent et al.'s social cognitive career choice model. (Contains 40…

Critically examines three propositions of Harris' group socialization theory (1995, 1998) related to parents' long-term effects on children's psychological characteristics, peer groups' influences, and the nature of dyadic relationships. Maintains that available evidence is more consistent with a model of multiple socialization agents. Proposes a…

Maintains that context effects and genetic effects are among the confounding factors that make it impossible to reject the null hypothesis of zero long-term parenting effects on child outcomes. Asserts that group socialization theory attributes outside-the-home socialization to identification with a peer group and assimilation of group norms, but…