Samples of gifted adolescents in Louisiana (N=44) and Connecticut (N=34) were administered the Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking (TTCT), and their parents completed the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL). Scores on tests were statistically unrelated, and CBCL scores were similar to national norms and represented an absence of behavior disorders.…

Research and experience has shown that allowing children and youth to feel that they are contributing members of their communities, they are less likely to exhibit rebellious or delinquent behaviors. Describes three model programs that employ the principle of generosity as a key component of interventions for troubled children and youth.…

Examines the relationship between the accuracy of academic responding and aggression for two boys with mild retardation. Aggression was highest during spelling instruction; an evaluation showed aggression was escape maintained. Changes in teaching formats resulted in increased posttest scores. Data showed that the rates of problem behavior…

Profiles two San Antonio high schools' creative discipline approaches to supplement their official policies. At one high school, staff find out what "carrot" will work for grounding their "frequent-flier" kids. This usually involves devising attendance/behavior contracts for earning driving or other privileges. The other school has an…

Two studies examined the effects of musical manipulation on the challenging behaviors of two children and one adult with severe/profound mental retardation. First, high-rate challenging behaviors were identified and then fast- or slow-beat music was added. Challenging behavior was more frequent when slow-beat music was played. Affect also varied…

Considers the management of student noncompliance with specific requests, commands, or directives. The importance of preventing escalation of simple noncompliance to intensely hostile confrontations is stressed. Guidelines for fostering compliance and reducing refusal responses include creating a responsive, cooperative classroom environment,…

A study investigated the use of self-modeling to facilitate generalization and maintenance of the reduction of self-stimulation in a six-year-old boy with intellectual disability. The study used a videotape self-as-a-model method to successfully decrease hand flapping. (CR)

The Youth Self Report was used in a Swiss epidemiological study with 1,093 subjects aged 10 to 17 years. Internal consistency was good for three second-order factors, but it was less satisfactory for almost all syndrome scales. In general, internal consistency coefficients were slightly lower than for the U.S. sample. (SLD)

A study conducted functional analyses of the elopement of three children (ages 4-11) with developmental disabilities. The results identified a maintaining reinforcer for the elopement of one child and reinforcer assessments clarified the reinforcers for the other two. Results of the assessments were then used to develop successful treatments.…

Evaluated relationship of behavior problems, friendship, and peer rejection to peer victimization in third through seventh graders. Found that behavior problems were more strongly related to victimization when children had few friends, friends who could not protect them, or were rejected by peers than when children had more friends, friends who…

Examines parents' perceptions of the treatment effects for untreated siblings following parent-child interaction therapy. Results, based on 30 referred families, indicate that parents viewed the behavior of untreated siblings (siblings of children referred for treatment of disruptive behavior) as better than that of referred siblings waiting for…

Details the concepts of reinforcement and punishment and their roles in parenting. Claims that responding only to a child's negative behavior is problematic. Disputes contrary opinions of reinforcement techniques and outlines the importance of teaching and reinforcing desirable behavior. Provides examples as illustrations. (RJM)

The association between interparental conflict and problem behaviors (internalized vs. externalized) of children is examined. Youth perceptions of three interparental conflict variables are studied: parents' frequency of disagreement, parents' use of an overt conflict style, and parents' covert conflict style. Individual and socioeconomic…

Reports on the construction and application of an innovative technique, the School Apperception Story Procedure (SASP). In this task, children select three school-thematic pictures and tell how these show ideal and worst types of school. Evaluates the SASP with data collected from a study of perceptions of school among children with and without…

Adversarial approaches perpetuate disciplinary problems without solving them. Conferencing is a group conflict-resolution process that focuses on repairing relationships when offenders admit wrongdoing. When kids take responsibility for their bad behavior, they realize they can control their actions-the foundation for developing self-efficacy and…