Examined peer group contextual effects on relations between academic achievement and social functioning among Chinese 9-, 13-, and 16-year-olds. Found that peer groups were highly homogeneous on academic achievement. Academic achievement and social adjustment were associated at within-group individual and group levels. Group academic performance…

Reviews the developmental and psychosocial characteristics of the increasing number of school-aged persons infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Educational ramifications of these characteristics and strategies for providing safe teaching and learning environments are presented. (DB)

Studied adolescent personal and interpersonal characteristics, including social competence and thoughts on friendship and romantic interests during a camp reunion. Found that concurrent interest in relationships is a stronger predictor of social competence for participants with anxious histories, although participants with secure histories were…

Identified resilient, overcontrolled, and undercontrolled personality types among 7-year-old children. Found that resilient children, throughout adolescence, had higher academic achievement and fewer concentration problems and they more quickly developed a sophisticated understanding of friendship and an internal locus of control than the other…

Addresses the concern that society is raising a generation of children who lack a conscience. Examines the increasing number of youth who are not bonded to caring adults in home, school, church, or community. Explores ways to develop self-discipline and values, the role of society, virtue for delinquents, and altruism in action. (RJM)

Part of a series of articles on a new psycho-educational program that teaches antisocial youth to think and act responsibly. Discusses procedures for fostering mature moral judgment and describes the increased effectiveness of youth as peer helpers when trained in moral judgment, anger management, and other skills. (RJM)

This article discusses the interaction of infant social and cognitive development, and presents preliminary findings from a longitudinal study of infants with and without Down syndrome. Evidence suggests that the development of triadic (person-person-world) social interactions may be affected by limited information processing capacities in infants…

In St. Louis, Missouri, an innovative program has operated for 10 years to identify exceptionally gifted children from area school districts and bring them together in a full-time articulated program that blends acceleration and enrichment. Approximately 50 students in grades 1-12 are enrolled in the Program for Exceptionally Gifted Students.…

A case study of an academically gifted college student who committed suicide resulted in three sets of findings: those that reflected exclusively on the subject's life, those that compared his life with 3 previous psychological autopsies conducted, and those that reflected the parents' observations and experiences of his life. (Contains…

This article reviews the extent and quality of empirical literature on social interaction for young children with autism, reviews existing descriptive and experimental research on relations between autism and characteristics that support social development, highlights possible directions for future research, and summarizes recommendations for…

This article presents a rationale for matching social skills intervention strategies to the skill and comfort levels that typically developing children show toward their peers with special needs and provides teachers with guidance on how to accomplish this match. Environmental manipulations that facilitate interactions and peer-mediated strategies…

Examined the impact of computers on the social behavior of 14 preschoolers over a 2-month period. Found that there were a total of 91 peer interactions and 33 teacher interactions, including children acknowledging each other, children commenting and being ignored, and children sharing or helping each other. Boys used the computer more than girls.…

Examined effect of participation in a high school drama program on the social maturity and self-esteem of 20 high school drama students relative to 20 peers who were not enrolled in drama. Findings showed significant improvements in areas of social presence, tolerance, and achievement via independence for drama students but did not demonstrate…

Considers developmental and prognostic implications of early peer relations. Reviews evidence concerning peer difficulties as risk factors and family and peer relations in social development. Advances a conjunctive model of socialization. (BB)

Behavior profiles of four experienced teachers of infants and toddlers were obtained by means of the Assessing the Behavior of Caregivers (ABC) checklist. The ABC was shown to be a sensitive and easy-to-use instrument that was useful in monitoring interactions between adults and children and effects of in-service training. (DE)