Addresses the debate over aversive versus nonaversive treatment for preschool children with severe behavior disorders. Discusses problematic aspects of an ideological approach to behavior disorder treatment; relative intrusiveness of psychoactive medications; alternatives to legal actions against school districts; side effects; therapeutic effects…

The Child Behavior Rating Form (CBRF) was adapted for use with children having mental retardation and was named the Nisonger CBRF. Independent factor analyses of parent and teacher ratings for 369 children produced 2 Social Competence subscales and 6 Problem Behavior subscales. Internal consistency was generally high and parent-teacher agreement…

This article offers teachers 12 suggestions for dealing with cursing by students, such as teaching students the differences among assaultive cursing, racial insults and slurs, lewd and sexually assaultive insults and slurs, and profanity and epithets; differentially reinforcing less offensive profanity; trying self-mediated interventions; and…

Outlines strategies for dealing with campers who have difficult behavior and includes examples in which camp staff were unaware of a camper's emotional or behavior problem. Case studies involve a camper with a learning disability and a camper who had been sexually abused by a teacher. Includes guidelines for establishing behavior agreements. (LP)

Examined precursors and correlates of sexual intercourse patterns among 10th- and 11th-graders. The transition to onset of sexual intercourse was associated with increases in delinquency and slower increases in school grades. Earlier onset and a more persistent pattern of sexual intercourse were associated with more childhood problem behaviors,…

Describes features of psychological distress observed in children exposed to war, including withdrawal, aggression/conduct disorders, school problems, hyperactivity, and posttraumatic stress. Notes the high incidence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) found in all refugee groups studied. Notes teacher efforts to work with traumatized…

A new principal remembers her humiliation when a kindergarten teacher chastised her for tying a shoe with her teeth (as taught by her handicapped mother). As a teacher, she refrained from prejudging "problem" children's actions and often violated classroom rules to accommodate students' varied needs. (MLH)

Children's Social Behavior Questionnaire (CCBQ) scores from 240 children with pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (PDDNOS), 95 with high-functioning autism, 181 with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, 400 with psychiatric problems, and 234 controls, indicated significant group differences on all scales and good test…

Reviews genesis of fetal alcohol syndrome and fetal alcohol effects in children. Identifies physical characteristics and behavioral indicators found and provides three checklists of observable signs for both disorders. Recommends seven steps for educators to follow in seeking assistance with these conditions. (DLH)

This article analyzes variables associated with adherence by parents to recommendations designed to solve common childhood problems and specific corresponding processes that are responsible for poor adherence. Adherence variables include establishing operations, stimulus generalization, response acquisition, and consequent events. (Contains…

An assessment task was devised to explore the attributional style and role-taking ability of 22 aggressive and 22 nonaggressive adults with moderate to mild mental retardation. Aggressive participants showed a hostile bias in their interpretation of others' intentions within ambiguous interpersonal situations and were superior in role-taking…

Examines self-enhancement bias among 5th and 11th graders in the United States and Japan by having students listen to stories describing behaviors (aggressive, depressive, oppositional, and school-phobic) of hypothetical peers. Reports that U.S. students showed no greater self-enhancement tendencies, while 11th graders rated themselves less like…

Explored psychological effects of sexual abuse in adolescents by comparing Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory profiles of sexually abused adolescents with those of nonabused adolescents with behavior problems. Found significant differences on four of the scales. Sexually abused adolescents revealed more severe pychopathology than the…

Examined whether associations between marital discord and trajectories of adolescent depression and delinquency varied as a function of intrapersonal attributes. Found that difficult temperament potentiated effects of marital discord on adjustment trajectories. Heightened perceived family support protected adolescents from adverse marital discord…

Aserts that it is unclear how the Ages and Stages Questionnaires: Social-Emotional ratings link to other critical child and family risk factors. Identifies questions regarding how well individual dimensions of social behavior are measured and concerns about the partial overlap between competent and problem behavior. Expresses concerns about the…