Describes acculturation measures for Hispanic Americans: Acculturation Rating Scale for Mexican Americans, Cultural Life Style Inventory, Bicultural/Multicultural Experience Inventory, Measure of Acculturation, and Bicultural Involvement Questionnaire. Discusses acculturation assessment issues: direct versus indirect measurement, potential…

Describes a survey in and around Grahamstown in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa, which focused on the steady trickle of speakers of Xhosa into English-medium schools in the area. Examined the underlying reasons to send Xhosa children to these schools and the subsequent socio-psychological effects of the move on children. (Author/VWL)

This study evaluates the ability of the hopelessness theory of depression's etiological chain to account for this relation in a sample of 297 undergraduates. Results indicated that emotional, but not physical or sexual, maltreatment was uniquely related to average levels of suicidal ideation across a 2.5-year follow-up. (Author)

Describes complex issues involved in helping impulsive-aggressive youth who are devoid of emotional intelligence. Reviews anatomy of impulsivity and the irrational beliefs used as defense mechanisms by impulsive-aggressive students. Discusses two alternative intervention strategies, Life Space Crisis Intervention techniques and the Self Control…

Examines the cultural values and assumptions underlying the theory and research regarding psychological well-being. It is argued that culture-free theories or measures of well-being are unattainable because all understandings of psychological well-being are based on moral visions. (Author/GCP)

The employee-supervisor relationship is critical to a camp's success. Ideas from psychology, biology, and organizational dynamics illuminate how supervisors interpret certain staff traits and behaviors. The "set-up-to-fail" syndrome is described. Recommendations cover building good relationships and improving communication between supervisors and…

This paper describes the development of the Behaviour Function Inventory (BFI), an instrument designed to assess particular disorders of psychological development and functioning in children with developmental disorders including autism. A study of the reliability and validity of the scale indicated that the BFI provides precise information on the…

Youth Surveys of the British Household Panel Study were used to examine the well being of adolescents. Well being is conceptualized as a multi-dimensional construct and models of gender and age differences were developed and tested. Confirmatory factor analysis found clear gender differences in self esteem, unhappiness, and worries. Many…

The Parental Bonding Instrument was used to examine the relationship between parenting styles and the psychological distress and offending patterns of a group of young male offenders in Scotland. High levels of psychological distress were linked with low parental care, but there was no association between psychological distress and parental…

Describes the process of coaching individuals in their efforts to change themselves in the context of their family systems. Coaching begins by training clients to become observers of their role in family patterns of behavior. Coaching then moves to bring behavior more in line with their deepest beliefs, even if it means violating family norms. (BF)

Integrates the object relations concept of projective identification and the systemic concept of marital dances to develop a more powerful model for working with more difficult and distressed couples. Suggests how object relations techniques can be used to interrupt projective identifications and resolve conflict on intrapsychic level so the…

Examined Modified Scale for Suicide Ideation (MSSI) scores for 198 suicidal men during suicidal crisis, prior to entry into treatment study, and again at 1-month and 12-month follow ups. Found evidence for decreased suicidality, but this was interpreted as the gradual action of interpersonal support, rather than as emotional catharsis. (BF)

We examined 7-month-old infants' responses to 6 joy-eliciting episodes. Three episodes included and 3 did not include a major social-interactive component. Confirmatory factor analysis of infants' joy reactions in these episodes revealed that a 2-factor model significantly improved the fit over a single-factor solution. Those 2 factors represented…

Inspired by the impact of an increase in tourism in the Old Center of Naples, Fondazione Laboratorio Mediterraneo, a nonprofit organization that promotes sustainable town development and encourages participation, has undertaken the participatory action research described in this article. The inhabitants' sense of community (McMillan & Chavis,…

Data gathered from a short term longitudinal study within fifth grade classrooms (n=378) were used to evaluate two process-oriented models linking peer rejection and negative peer treatment to children's self-concept, school engagement and adjustment. Both structural models linked peer rejection, victimization, and exclusion to children's…