Examined how externalizing as well as internalizing behavioral problems in childhood and adolescence predict young adults' personalities as represented by Loevinger's (1976) model of ego development. Demonstrated that behavioral problems in childhood and adolescence predict young adults' ego-level attainment in unique and meaningful ways.…

Study assessed compliance and internalization for 99 preschoolers previously studied as toddlers. Compliance and internalization were assessed in multiple observational contexts using maternal reports. Found that committed and situational compliance had distinct developmental trajectories, and only committed compliance was associated with…

Used Adult Attachment Interview to examine relationship between mothers' level of security and children's attachment behavior. Found that except for children of preoccupied mothers, children of mothers classified as secure scored higher on the (Attachment Q-Set) AQS-derived security dimension than children whose mothers were classified as insecure…

Reviews data concerning the rate of offending and the rate of victimization among children and adolescents, highlighting the lack of comprehensive national data on victimization. Children and adolescents are at substantially greater risk, on the basis of statistical incidence, for the commission of "nuisance offenses" than for serious…

A forced-choice procedure was used with two children, ages three and seven, with profound mental retardation to identify reinforcers. Preferred stimuli were selected using approach responding and latency between stimulus presentation and the first occurrence of aberrant behavior (hand mouthing). Results indicated that latency may be useful in…

Addresses the potential of camp to promote self-esteem and nurture a sense of community. Summarizes articles in this journal issue that focus on individual and group behavior including homesickness, how camps can promote positive attitudes toward disabled campers, and a camp program that provides respite care for families of children with AIDS.…

Seven children (ages 4 to 7) with autism were taught to engage in symbolic play using Pivotal Response Training. Children with autism rarely exhibited symbolic play before training, but after training they learned to perform complex and creative symbolic play at levels similar to that of language-matched controls. Interaction skills also improved…

Effects of enacted maternal withdrawal and depression were observed in a sample of 18- to 36-month-old children during counterbalanced episodes of simulated depression and normal affect. Found that when mothers enacted withdrawal and depressed affect, toddlers physically withdrew from them, made more negative physical bids for attention, and…

Examined patterns of interaction between Mexican parent-child dyads to understand the relationships between childrearing practices, culture, family social environment, and children's social and emotional development. Found that warm, supportive parenting was related to both supportive and assertive, self-expressive child behavior, whereas…

Observed 193 children at 4.5 years who had been classified at 4 months as high or low reactive to stimulation for signs of inhibited or uninhibited behavior. Children classified as high reactive were less spontaneous and less sociable than low-reactive children, but only a small proportion maintained a consistently inhibited or uninhibited…

Illustrates contribution of genetic and environmental factors to differential ratings of within-family behavior and environmental differences. Maintains that, assuming differential ratings are a linear function of underlying trait differences, it is simple to recover within-family statistics, offering a more legitimate basis than comparing mean…

Two nested structural models are developed to determine whether test-session behaviors affect the manner in which intelligence is measured or influence the constructs being measured. Results indicate that test-session behaviors play a larger role influencing the mechanisms of measurement than on the constructs of intelligence. (Author/EMK)

Examined the nature of conflicts among young preschoolers. Observed 184 three-year-olds in a dyadic play situation. Found that children's conflicts arose in the context of ongoing play and were brief. Concluded that by age 36 months, most children have acquired the skills to play positively with a peer. (JS)

Investigated the endings of sibling conflicts in 40 families at two time periods. Observed four types of conflict endings: compromise, reconciliation, submission and no resolution. Found that conflict typically ended with no resolution, followed by submission, compromise and finally reconciliation. Discovered that parents influence conflict…

Reports on a multi-component skills and behavior management program for children diagnosed with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder developed in the context of a sports-skills camp. The first component, which studied the efficacy of basketball skills, resulted in decreased dribbling errors. A second component, which implemented a token system…