This digest describes how teachers can use cognitive-behavioral interventions (CBI) to remediate behavioral deficits and excesses by providing students with the tools necessary to control their own behavior. CBIs involve teaching the use of inner speech ("self-talk" )to modify underlying cognitions that affect overt behavior. CBI…

The Rating Ethical Content System (RECS) was developed for adults, but the question remains whether children can recognize moral themes in media with the same competency as adults. The current study aims to test a modified version of the existing scale (RECS-K) for use by children in order to determine whether children can recognize ethical…

Children's anger presents challenges to teachers committed to constructive, ethical, and effective child guidance. This Digest explores what is known about the components of children's anger, factors contributing to understanding and managing anger, and the ways teachers can guide children's expressions of anger. Anger is believed to have three…

Asserting that young children often demonstrate challenging behaviors for any number of reasons, this paper presents strategies designed to prevent problem behaviors in young children. Basic principles for establishing a community of learners are discussed. Strategies for teaching children to negotiate, problem solve, and understand the viewpoints…

Teachers at every grade level and in every setting are trying to manage and teach students with an increasing diverse range of needs. This paper describes a collaborative study to observe, record, and assess the impact and outcomes of an integrated approach for teaching skills of self-discipline to students considered to be academically at-risk.…

Support for this research was provided by The University Research Committee of the University of Alabama.

Compared parallel scales of children's self-control developed for teachers and children. Self-control ratings by teachers and children related to naturalistic observations and to teacher ratings of frustration tolerance and acting-out/aggressive problems. Teachers' ratings of self-control related to IQ and achievement. Supported the validity of…

In an increasing number of schools, programs are being designed to instill self discipline in children. Adapted forms of reality therapy, parent effectiveness training, and teacher effectiveness training are used as preventative measures in cooperative ventures by Parent Teacher Associations and school districts. (FG)

Teacher personal control was investigated by comparing the responses of teacher trainees with those of practicing teachers. The responses of teachers with more than five years experience indicated a significantly higher sense of personal control than either teacher trainees or teachers with less than five years experience. (Author/JN)

Evaluated an intervention program for child abusers using multiple outcome criteria and extended follow-up. Findings indicated that training abusive parents in child-management and self-control techniques resulted in improvements in parenting skills. A one-year follow-up found no incidences of child abuse among treatment families reported to or…

In order to better prepare medical students for care of alcoholic patients, arguments are presented for understanding the negative perceptions of alcoholics, which are ingrained in the general culture, and how they merge with the students' developing professional identities. (Author/MLW)

The effects of videotapes of situations depicting coping difficulties (along with group discussion) on the prosocial behavior of 109 emotionally and academically handicapped boys (ages 7 to 15) in a residential treatment center were studied. Findings showed that Ss in the treatment group improved in their abilities to exercise self-control. (PHR)

The study determined the effects of Structured Learning Therapy (SLT) in treating 60 Puerto Rican fathers who had exhibited family aggression. The validity of using a short-term therapy program such as SLT to counteract a longstanding cultural tradition was questioned. (SB)

Argues that teachers play a major role in guiding children toward responsible anger management. Addresses what researchers know about the development of children's feeling, expression, and understanding of anger. Examines factors contributing to managing anger including memory, language, and self-referential and self-regulatory behaviors.…

Examined preschoolers' use of display rules, their outcome expectancies when managing negative affect, and parental perceptions of family emotional expressivity. Found that children reported expressing emotion most to fathers; boys regulated affect with mothers more than did girls. Also found that children expressed emotion when expecting help,…