Presents a classroom demonstration that reveals how the students' self-monitoring orientations are meaningfully related to their commitment in dating relationships. Shows how those high in self-monitoring tend to adopt an uncommitted orientation to dating relationships, and discusses how this exercise can lead to further classroom study.…

Examined efficacy of 10 weekly group counseling sessions on self-concept and social behavior among fourth, fifth, and sixth graders with learning disabilities. Compared to controls (N=30), children in experimental group (N=23) had significantly higher posttest scores on self-concept scale, and had more positive ratings on two social skills scales…

Indicates that males were more likely than females to use (1) violence against a noncompliant male persuasive target in a noninterpersonal relational context, and (2) direct coercion against persistently noncompliant and noninterpersonal persuasive targets in relational contexts with short-term consequences. (JD)

The authors explore ways in which beginning reading books present cultural perspectives to young children. They examine certain modes of thought, experience, and interaction prevalent in the child's preschool life in contrast to other types of experiences characteristic of the culture of formal and literate schooling. (Author/CT)

In support of moral education, the authors propose that teaching morality to criminals is a necessary and economic facet of correctional education, especially to combat crime in general and recidivism specifically. The authors view the criminal's inability to make rational, moral judgments as a major cause of crime. (Author/CT)

Reports on an experiment that examined the independent effects of television content (violence) and television formal features (action) on preschool boys' attention to programs and their postviewing social behavior. Shows rapid character action facilitated visual attention to the programs and that television action level had no systematic effects…

Thirty preschool children whose parents had shown congruence or lack of congruence in their attitudes toward adult control were observed in naturalistic settings. The children exhibiting the lowest level of prosocial behaviors had mothers with scores representing a high need for adult control and fathers whose scores were below the factor mean.…

Children often come to school with undesirable social skills. To help the classroom operate more smoothly, good manners are necessary. Activities and ideas to help teachers develop acceptable behaviors in students are offered. (DF)

Highlights findings from three research studies. These studies focused on: (1) a comparison of various types of preschool day care; (2) infants as young as 14 months old who performed deferred imitation; and (3) a behavior modification technique called "guided mastery." (DH)

Examines the interaction of teachers and learners in their various activities along a continuum that extends from instructional to natural discourses and is determined by the way participants present themselves to one another and negotiate turns-at-talk, topics, and repairs. Suggests ways to broaden and diversify discourse options in the…

An investigation of the process of language teaching as communication in a cross-cultural context shows that there is potential for misunderstanding. Examples of types of errors that are pragmatic rather than grammatical are discussed. A model is presented to help understand the pragmatic error. (DF)

Researchers are investigating how emotions affect the ways in which children think and interact with others. The Minnesota Preschool Project used observation measures for general types of positive, negative, and inappropriate emotional expression. "Social competence" was found to be highly correlated with the number of positive expressions minus…

In this overview of literature pertaining to professionalization of attitudes toward play, the author argues that research does not prove (a) that differences in value orientation can be attributed to participation in athletics, and (b) that involvement in competition socializes an athlete into the value system of the work world. (Author/MT)

Examines the attempts of the New York Manumission Society, a white anti-slavery group, to monitor and influence the behavior of free blacks in the decades following the Revolution. Identifies chief characteristics of the Society's relationship to New York's black community. Argues that the Society's wealthy white leadership probably imposed its…

A study was conducted to compare relative effects of an every day, half-day, and an all-day, alternate day, kindergarten schedule on academic achievement, classroom social behavior, and attendance. Results and implications for kindergarten programming are discussed. (Author/DF)