Discusses various theories concerning the purpose of children's humor, especially in the classroom. Describes ways in which children use humor to deal with stress. (RJC)

Factor analytic literature published since 1965 examining the dimensionality of the adaptive behavior (AB) construct is reviewed, in light of AB's inclusion in the definition of mental retardation. Personal independence and five secondary factors were identified. AB's dimensionality varied as a function of number of methodologies and scale…

Reviews literature to examine factors affecting individual and family reactions to geographical relocation. Gives specific attention to experiences of military families because of the number of studies available on that population. Discusses positive and negative aspects of relocation and factors that assist in relocation. Implications of this…

This paper examines characteristics of resilience and compares characteristics of giftedness and resilience. It discusses cognitive appraisal as a mechanism used by gifted children as they develop resilience. Applications for working with gifted students and areas for future research are noted. (JDD)

A review of literature on sensitivity as an affective characteristic of gifted persons is presented. A multifaceted approach to sensitivity is proposed, conceptualizing it as consisting of cognitive and affective dimensions of both interpersonal and intrapersonal sensitivity. The psychological concepts of self-awareness, perspective taking,…

Provides a comprehensive literature review of research--from 1980 to 1990--regarding reentry women. Discusses reentry trends; general characteristics; reasons for reentry; personality; role, values, and family; satisfaction in the student role; career choice; reentry women after graduation; research limitations; and research recommendations.…

Reviews research conducted on adult populations dealing with correlates or predictors of proficiency in a second language. Four classes of individual difference variables are considered, including (1) attitudes and motivation; (2) language aptitude and intelligence; (3) language learning strategies; and (4) personality variables. (83 references)…

The compulsive perfectionist is compared with "stress seekers" who pursue challenges without judging themselves as harshly. Examples of these types from the literature in terms of economic life, fiction, interpersonal relationships, and sexuality are discussed. Risk-taking and social pressure are seen as key factors in the balanced…

Describes the concept of cognitive styles and discusses why they are of interest to psychologists and educators. Describes motivations for theory and research on cognitive styles, and reviews some of the principal literature on cognitive style. A theory of mental self-government is presented as an approach to the study of cognitive style. (SLD)

Relates personality disorders to career development issues and counseling interventions. Case examples suggesting career-focused treatment interventions for dependent, borderline, obsessive-compulsive, and passive-aggressive personality disorders are presented. (Author/JBJ)

There is no comprehensive understanding of the idea of personality in Soviet and Russian pedagogics. Past discussions about personality have focused on personality orientation as determined by the prevailing motives that explain the behavior and conduct of man. In soviet psychology, the nature of man is considered to be his relations to other men,…

The empirical research on psychological and social adjustment of children and adolescents with visual impairments is reviewed. The dichotomy between deficit and nondeficit functioning of these youths is explored. Personality research suggests that some youth with visual impairments display minor deficits in self-concept and self-esteem. It is…

This brief paper suggests that Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) may result from a specific "novelty seeking" gene which has been associated over the history of man's evolution with a biological advantage in situations where energy, risk taking, and creativity are essentials. It reviews research on the genetics of ADD which suggest that novelty…

The belief that gifted children are more likely to have personality problems than "normal" individuals is not supported by research, but the image of the disturbed gifted child persists. This paper reviews research from a life-span developmental perspective to examine why this image persists. The paper critically examines the research of L.…

Schools are currently being asked to serve as a catalyst for change with respect to problems confronting children and families in the United States. A problem solving approach has been articulated in the national educational goals set forth in the America 2000 program, involving schools in a restructuring movement which calls for school personnel…