Assessed ability to perceive the distance at which an object is within reach. Results support early development of spatial decentralization and perspective taking, that is, allocentrism. (ETB)

Examined whether having had a friend or family member experience rape heightens empathy for rape victims. Subjects who knew a rape victim reported experiencing more empathy for a patient presented on videotape than did subjects not knowing a rape victim. This empathy extended to all victims of trauma. (RJM)

Suggests that control be seen as a compensatory process where people are most likely to control their partners when control over the environment is challenged, as it is when relationships exhibit low mastery, low trust, or high conflict. Controlling one's partner serves to compensate for a perceived lack of control. (RJM)

Asserts that the religious educational process must recognize the need to nurture the sense of wonder because it helps to put one's place in the world into proper perspective. Explores the concept of wonder and its place as a means of integrating personal religious experience into religious education. (DSK)

This study sought to differentiate pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (PDDNOS) from similar nonautistic disorders on the basis of a cognitive deficit, theory of mind (ToM), which is the ability to infer mental states in others, a deficit highly prevalent in autism, a disorder similar to PDDNOS. Results suggest that children…

Creative-writing classes help adults acquire aesthetic knowledge and understanding as well as skills in the craft of writing. They also develop creative modes of thought and the ability to assess their own work; they may possibly achieve perspective transformation. (SK)

Relates the author's own experience of reading "Morning Girl," by Michael Dorris, as an example of practicing literary criticism. Provides an in-depth analysis of "Morning Girl" and how it could be interpreted and discussed through Langer's model of envisionment building. Illuminates Langer's theory so that it may be applied to…

A delegate with the People to People Ambassador program describes her visit to Russia in 1997, focusing on facilities, collections, and services of the Academy of Sciences in St. Petersburg, Fundamentals Library of St. Petersburg State Technical University and Open Library Systems Center, National Library of Russia (St. Petersburg), and Russian…

The effects of training on first, third, and fifth graders' spatial perspective taking with multiobject two-dimensional arrays were assessed in two studies. Found that, on an immediate test of retention, performance was significantly better for those subjects trained with feedback present than for nontrained students. (MDM)

Introduces theme issue on Piagetian constructivist perspective on children's understanding. Summarizes feature articles which argue that teaching should be based on Piaget's theory; and elucidate the development of social and moral understanding, perspective-taking, play, written language, friendship and popularity, and mathematics. Emphasizes the…

Debating can teach students how to investigate new ideas, develop critical thinking, and open their minds to different viewpoints. It is a way to explore a world filled with diverse viewpoints. Debating topics can come from the books students are reading. The debating process develops critical reading skills by challenging students to examine text…

Summarizes research concerning the influence of different types of discussions about moral dilemmas between adolescents and either parents or peers on the adolescents' moral development. Discusses implications for camp staff, who may lead campers in discussions based on real-life moral dilemmas in their cabins. (SV)

Explores the desconstructive view of disability through an analysis of stories using criteria derived from constructivist principles of narrative therapy. Parents' narratives define and deconstruct the dominant discourse about being the parent of a child with disabilities and reveal insights about the impact of stereotypic views of disability.…

Describes the strategies used in a program to enhance primary school students' perspective-taking. Suggests using I-messages to help children resolve conflicts, using active listening during sharing time, developing caring relationships, and providing opportunities for social interaction. (KB)

Describes an art activity in which Tim Grunwald, a blind member of the community, taught the students to see in a new way. Explains that the students explored how clay feels, smells, and is molded as they closed their eyes; this experience helped the students escape from an intense world of visual images. (CMK)