This study investigates the relative influences of parents, peers, and partners on the contraceptive use of college men and women. Self-administered questionnaires were completed by a nonprobability, purposive sample of 434 never-married, sexually active males and females between the ages of 17 and 22 years. (Author)

Investigates the effects on young male students of differing social backgrounds and varying levels of intelligence, of seeing a peer misbehave. Notes that working class boys imitated the misbehaving model significantly more than middle-class boys. Level of intelligence was not found to relate to the amount a student imitated a misbehaving peer.…

Reinforces the notion that adolescent drug use has psychosocial roots, and deemphasizes the focus on the addictive properties of drugs. Endorses the need to create a sense of opportunity for youth and to reinforce awareness of personal worth, strong values, and beliefs. (KS)

Writing and teaching networks provide a way for teachers to support each other by sharing their writing, by reflecting on teaching of writing, and by talking over problems and progress. Ways administrators can facilitate such groups and ways for teachers to organize meetings are suggested. (MT)

Investigated marijuana knowledge, attitudes, use, and peer pressure among Canadian adolescents. Results indicated that peer pressure is not pervasive, that it can be resisted, and that it is not stigmatizing to not use drugs. (BL)

Peer Pressure Reversal, a way of teaching children to say no and still "save face" with their friends, is described. (MT)

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…

Concludes that positive peer influence is related to college students' positive study habits. (FL)

Extends the rationale for integrating handicapped with nonhandicapped children to include the mainstreaming of infants in group care programs. (RH)

The research concerning relative and independent influences of family and peers upon adolescent drug use is reviewed. As concern regarding adolescent drug use has grown, so has the research to explain this behavior. A summary of research findings and specific suggestions for future research are made. (Author/DWH)

Results suggest that the age composition of peer groups influences the performance of peer-modeled information, thus providing an indication that imitation of peers is a selective process influenced by the relative age of the model to the observer. Data also suggest that observational learning is a complex process involving considerable…

Effect of peer presence on the sex-typed toy choices of three and four year olds (N=62) was investigated in a repeated measures experimental design. (MP)

Five-year follow-up study of recidivism of male graduates from adult boot camp examined the competing theories in predicting recidivism among these males. Findings indicated that elements of social learning theory are among the strongest predictors of recidivism. Differential peer association and normative definitions are the two top predictors.…

Incivility by teachers can turn into behavior that injures careers. Workplace "mobbing" or bullying begins when an individual becomes the target of disrespectful and harmful behavior. Recounts experiences of two teachers. Offers suggestions to school leaders to stop this incivility. (MLF)

Analyzed smoking behavior and peer group patterns among 1,689 eighth graders. Found that peer groups were crucially important in initiation of smoking among young adolescents, particularly females. Patterns of indirect peer influence on girls suggest that girls are less likely to stop smoking once they have begun than are boys. (Author/NB)