Introduces the articles in the theme issue, exploring their contribution to the understanding of college students' stages of intellectual development and how college instruction should respond. (EV)

Discusses the research debate over the question whether intelligence diminishes as a function of birth order. Presents a study of Zimbabwean children confirming the general downward trend of intelligence as a function of birth order. Addresses the influence of family size. (DB)

The purpose of this article is to disclose and comment upon some of the conceptual and empirical confusions that confront a revised concept of intelligence which sees intelligence as general skill(s) that can be directly taught rather than as a relatively fixed ability. Implications for teaching thinking skills are discussed. (IAH)

Presents responses from elementary school children asked to discuss their reasons for organizing collections of objects such as coins, shells, and baseball cards. It is argued that the integration of personal collections into the curriculum can provide fruitful educational experiences, promote critical thinking skills, and demonstrate that…

Examined the relation of control beliefs to individual differences in 63 elderly adults in 1981 and 1986. Over the 5 years, generalized control and intellectual performance did not change, but intellectual control beliefs did. (RJC)

Compared standardized versus semi-structured approach to measuring intellectual development to identify accurate methods to assess gender differences and similarities. Intellectual development was measured for 101 college freshmen using the Measure of Epistemological Reflection and a semi-structured interview. Results provide strong evidence that…

Investigated child rearing attitudes of parents of 128 Swedish preschoolers to determine associations of parental agreement. Results suggest that the impact of parental agreement on psychological functioning in Sweden may be less general and gender-differentiated than the impact in the United States, which was demonstrated in Brock and others'…

A comprehensive theory is needed to explain the gifted/creative child's developing intelligence. Literature-based criteria are suggested for evaluating theories and for distinguishing theories from program applications, within four broad categories: nature of the gifted child, education and identification, framework of the theory, and criteria for…

Examined rates of cognitive and psychosocial development and the influences of salient life experiences of traditional-aged college students. Results from 15 college students over one academic year suggest that intellectual and psychosocial developmental processes are not uniform, occur at discrepant rates, and are significantly affected by life…

This paper outlines a research program that seeks to develop strategies for facilitating creative development through paradigmatic transformation. The Mobius Ring is used as a metaphor for intuition and intellect cyclically feeding each other, and a continuum of modes of thought evolving from "Becoming" to "Being" is outlined. These strategies can…

Notes that, despite gains in eliminating lead sources, there are still detectable effects from low-level exposure. Discusses at what level of exposure the adverse effects of lead become trivial and what measures, if any, should be taken to reduce low-level exposure. (HTH)

The family's values, attitudes, and ways of relating internally and externally determine its health-creating or destroying power. The family's overwhelming impact on human competence makes a strong case for premarital and parent education that prepares people for roles as spouses and parents. (SK)

This study, with 228 freshmen at the University of Hartford (Connecticut), found significant intellectual growth (especially in movement away from dualistic thinking) in most students over the year, with the amount of growth related to the number of completed interdisciplinary general education courses, which were specifically designed to promote…

Assessed the intellectual development and academic achievement of 87 diabetic children during the first 6 years of their illness. At the initial diagnosis, intellectual performance and school grades were in the average range. Over time, verbal intellectual performance and school grades declined, whereas nonverbal intellectual performance improved…