Research on bullying has demonstrated the negative effects it has on both protagonist and victim. Schools ignore this dynamic at their own risk because ridicule can also lead to explosive incidents. Schools need to address this challenge by replacing a culture of hostile cliques with a climate of respect. (BF)

Used new longitudinal clustering technique to identify and compare groups of children with distinct longitudinal profiles of peer social preference during elementary school. Identified a stable popular group, stable average group, and unpopular group, all with decreasing social preference. Groups showed overlap over time with closest corresponding…

Gender segregation in the classroom is advocated as academically beneficial, particularly for girls. However, the social impact for children has received little attention. The present study compared children's peer relations following the transition from mixed-sex fourth-grade classrooms to same-sex fifth-grade classrooms, and beyond into same-sex…

Developing kindness and compassion for others is a critical part of young children's development. The ability to accept others--even if they are different--and feel compassion for them is an essential component of social competency which is just as important as any academic training. Teaching acceptance and compassion through play can be great…

College students' ecstasy (MDMA) use increased significantly in recent years, yet little is known about these students. In this study, the authors used the Center for Alcohol and Other Drug Studies (CORE) survey to compare 29 college students who had used ecstasy and other illicit drugs with 90 students who had used marijuana and no other illicit…

Drawing from social identity theory (Tajfel & Turner, 1979), an experiment was carried out to determine the extent to which children's attitudes towards bullying could be moderated by in-group norms and perceived threat to group distinctiveness. The study investigated the responses of 120 male primary school students aged 10-13 years from five…

A multi-method project was conducted in a Local Education Authority (LEA) in the north of England. The relationships between girls' friendships, bullying, school attendance and transfer were explored through documentary analysis, LEA school admission statistics, group interviews and q-sort technique. This paper reports selectively on those…

In the classroom, young people in their role of pupils are supposed to focus on and respond to the teaching plan. At breaks, the norms and rules may differ and are more similar to life outside the school. Peer rejection is part of this life. According to Swedish school legislation, schools shall counteract all forms of insulting treatment. Still,…

This analysis of third and fourth graders suggests that enemy relationships are common, often of short duration, and partially reflective of negative behavior patterns between boys and girls in elementary school. (Contains 4 tables.)

The present study was designed to examine early adolescents' stereotypical descriptions of two types of youth who are seen as popular by their peers. Participants were 13- to 14-year-old early adolescents (N = 287). The results indicated that early adolescents distinguished two types of popular peers: a "populistic" (popular but not…

Interviews with 34 young adults with cerebral palsy and their responses to the Sense of Coherence Scale indicated that most experienced levels of life satisfaction and sense of coherence typical of non-handicapped persons. Satisfaction was most influenced by: feelings of meaningfulness; amount of support and guidance; and feelings of manageability…

Investigated the use of popular students in promoting the acceptance of socially neglected children. Results from fifth- and sixth-grade students suggest that popular students can be effectively directed to enhance the acceptance of socially neglected children. (Author/ABB)

The social/emotional impact of a gifted pullout program (grades 3-5) on participants (N=301) was evaluated through surveys administered to gifted and non-gifted students, staff, and parents. Elitism, social interactions, and peer/teacher expectations were examined. Results suggested either a neutral or supportive effect on program participants.…

Describes a program planned and implemented by community volunteers to facilitate the development of positive attitudes toward the disabled. The program was implemented over one semester in five public schools. The article discusses variables that contributed to the success of the program as well as some of the limitations of attitude change…

Examines the relationship between gender role and person-perception accuracy in face-to-face interactions between young adults and a young adult and a child. Females' perceptions were more astute in general, while androgynous subjects of both sexes were more accurate in predicting childrens' perceptions of them. (SA)