Subsequent to participation in a cognitively based moral reasoning development program adolescents identified by teachers as aggressive and/or disruptive demonstrated advance in moral reasoning stage and improvement on several behavioral indexes, including behavior referrals, tardiness, academic performance, and police/court contacts. Follow-up…

Examined the combined influence of child characteristics and parent characteristics on parental perceptions. Results revealed a significant interaction, indicating that the combination of high maternal depression with high levels of child noncompliant behavior was associated with more perceived child maladjustment. (Author/BL)

A severely mentally retarded 9-year-old boy with a history of inappropriate classroom behaviors was videotaped in his classroom under normal cool white fluorescent and full spectrum florescent lighting. Inappropriate behaviors were considerably less frequent under full spectrum fluorescent lighting. (Author/CL)

Preservice and student teachers (N=180) read and judged of classroom interventions. Results revealed that interventions differed markedly in their acceptability and that amount of teacher time, severity of behavior problem, and type of intervention were salient dimensions for consideration. (Author/CL)

According to John Wilson, the punishment of children is logically necessary, or inevitable, and punishment is the necessary concommitant of serious education. It is argued here that Wilson has not successfully established his case for the necessity of the punishment of children. (RM)

John Wilson defends his belief that the punishment of children is logically necessary, or inevitable, and that punishment is the necessary concommitant of serious education. (RM)

Compared psychological and academic adjustment in 260 adopted and nonadopted children from 6-11 years old. Results indicated that adopted children were rated higher in psychological and school-related behavior problems, and lower in social competence and school achievement, than were nonadopted children, although most adopted children appear to be…

Addresses the problem of cruelty to animals from a research perspective. Studies of possible causes of childhood cruelty to animals are reviewed and common contributing environmental factors are identified. Implications for educators are discussed and directives for detection and prevention of cruelty are suggested. (ML)

Lying is a symptom of a much broader problem. Primary motivations are need for acceptance, fear of punishment, and desire for attention. Children learn about honesty through observation, both directly and indirectly. Admitting mistakes, especially to children, is invaluable and can help break the lying syndrome. (MT)

Parents' reasons for failing to keep appointments at a child behavior management clinic were investigated. Explanations given frequently included: poor health status of parent or child, inadequate transportation, competing home and work responsibilities, and sudden crises. Further research is needed to assess the effects of interventions intended…

The Teaching Interaction approach, a 10-step procedure designed to help regular and special education students learn appropriate social and school-related behaviors, is a positive approach to discipline and can be used by any member of an educational staff. Interactions begin with an expression of affection and incorporate descriptions of the…

The extent of negative contagion (the modeling of inappropriate behaviors) among 15 high school severely emotionally disturbed students was explored. Through the use of naturalistic experimentation and a lag analysis, two behaviors (disruptive verbal and self-stimulation) were found to be contagious. One behavior (disruptive motor) was found to be…

A concealed video camera can record learning disabled students' behavior and provide a nonjudgmental way for them to see how they appear to others. Such an approach can include a positive emphasis on redirecting energy as well. (CL)

The authors suggest that line graphs that average response frequency over long periods obscure the major rate changes that indicate sources of behavioral control. A scatter plot can make patterns of responding identifiable and, in turn, suggest environmental features that occasion undesirable behavior. Use of scatter diagrams is illustrated in…

Parents' reports on social competence and behavioral problems were obtained for 53 learning disabled boys 12-16. On average, the LD boys showed significant lower levels of social competence and more behavior problems compared to normative samples of boys in the same age range. Results were compared to previously published findings for younger LD…