Explores the relationships between self-concept and Kohlberg-type moral reasoning among secondary students in Batswana. Notes predominant use of the preconventional level of moral reasoning. Finds this signifies the influence of social environment and cultural values on development of moral reasoning. (Author/NL)

Black, White, and Hispanic medical students are compared in terms of their social supports and personality resources and mental health status when they entered medical school and after a year of training. When entering school, minority students reported greater social supports, higher self-esteem, lower anxiety, and more internal locus of control.…

This study with 82 gifted males (grades 1-12) used a questionnaire which focused on self-confidence, perfectionism, relationships with parents, relationships with peers, hopelessness, and discouragement. Findings indicated a significantly higher level of discouragement and hopeless feeling for junior high school boys as compared with senior high…

Provides a brief summarization of 12 articles focusing on how gender, gender role identity, and attitudes toward gender roles may affect the nature of relationships, and how relationships may affect an individual's gender (including behaviors, attitudes, and self-perceptions). Although the focus is mainly on heterosexual relationships, lesbian/gay…

Examines impact of masculine ideology on adolescents' heterosexuality relationships, using national survey data for 1,069 adolescent males. Authors demonstrate how acceptance of "traditional male role attitudes" is related to a less intimate relationship with a partner when sex first occurs, an adversarial view of close relationships with women,…

Looks at early traits of self-efficacy in young gifted children in terms of a self that is aware and actively evaluative and seeks its own actualization. Three areas of expression of self-efficacy are depicted: the intellectual, the emotional, and the volitional. Parenting issues with regard to early self-efficacy are explored. (Author/DB)

A prospective study investigated associations between preschool temperament and environmental factors and school-age personality in 93 Swedish children. Found that personality was predicted by early temperament and environmental factors such as external day care and negative life events. Extraversion was most clearly related to temperament.…

Under British school-choice systems, parental perceptions of school quality motivate considerable pupil migration. Headteachers are cast into managerial roles stressing their ability to retain catchment populations and attract pupils from elsewhere. A South Wales study shows that school location and local environment figure prominently in a…

Asserts that Lawrence Kohlberg's purely "formalistic" conceptualizations of moral judgment and associated measures may misrepresent the true nature of moral thought. Identifies logical inconsistencies in Kohlberg's reliance on the "form" of moral judgment and argues for a reconceptualization in terms of content. Discusses the…

Uses a review of Peter E. Langford's, "Approaches to Moral Reasoning," to posit a broad critique of the moral reasoning theories of Lawrence Kohlberg. Summarizes Jean Piaget's stance on moral reasoning and its contributions to Kohlberg's work. Suggests a series of new approaches for research methodologies and subject matter. (MJP)

Details cultural changes in 20th-century Scandinavia. Considers arguments related to beliefs about children's lives; stereotypes of children as fragile were used to attack the modern family; day care as threatening healthy child development; and the conception of the malfunctioning child in adversarial parent-child relationships. Concludes that…

Paints a discouraging picture of the teaching conditions in higher education in the Ukraine. Salaries are about one-quarter of their previous levels, and often are not paid for months at a time, workers in science and education rank forty-fifth out of forty-eight pay categories, and publishing opportunities have declined. (MJP)

Reviews recent attachment-related studies of early aggression. Longitudinal attachment studies indicate that risk factors identified in cross-sectional studies of aggressive school-age children, such as family adversity, parental hostility, parental depression, and child cognitive deficits, are already evident in infancy and predictive of later…

Examined two groups of adult males who had been sexually abused as children by female maternal caregivers: those in treatment at a clinic specializing in sexual abuse survivor work, and those in treatment at a clinic specializing in sexual offender work. These groups show greater psychological disruption than adult males who as children had not…

Tested whether psychosocial variables showed direct relations to substance use, and direct, indirect, and interactive relations to use-related negative consequences in adolescents. Found psychosocial variables relate to problem use beyond the simple indirect effect from consumption level. (Author/DLH)