This commentary engages the three elements of a social justice framework in the study of African American Boys and Men's (AABM) positive development, proposed by Barbarin, Tolan, and Gaylord-Harden (2019). In agreement with the importance of and in support of employing a social justice framework in developmental science, we offer theoretical and…

The present commentary considers the theoretical and applied implications of Froh, Bono, and colleagues' benefit-appraisals intervention to promote gratitude among youth. First, we discuss the developmental competencies that children need to master before they can benefit from this intervention. The target curriculum was successful among 8- to…

Social exclusion is a serious social problem. Not "fitting in" at school may be an experience that can scar children psychologically for life. This is unsurprising since being part of the "in crowd" (i.e. accepted in-group members) is extremely important to children and adolescents. Being rejected by one's peers can cause an increase in antisocial…

The relationship between moral judgment and moral actions as Kohlberg defined it is extended to include more comprehensive social psychological factors. (Author/BB)

Raises the issue of using corporal punishment in schools. Argues that corporal punishment is not necessary to maintain discipline and that the potential for abuse is enormous. (AS)

Argues that children do not learn to be moral by obeying others' rules. Advocates an ethical approach that results in a well-formed conscience and reasoned understanding about responsible action. (SK)

Some studies indicate that individuals recognize conventional norms as social contrivances; others, that individuals reify social formations as something other than social products. Questions about comparatively transparent rules and the use of simplistic questions for complex phenomena give an exaggerated portrayal of individuals' awareness of…

Educators' overly romantic view of children has led them to underestimate their students, expect too little, and set aside their critical judgment. Instead, educators should act as adults toward children, by setting and enforcing standards, fitting praise to the level of performance, establishing discipline, and transmitting values. (Author/RW)

Suggests that society is increasingly hostile to youth, fixating on progress and success rather than treasuring children's genuineness and carefree innocence. Recommends giving children space to grow; becoming aware of what children say, think, and want; and discovering the limitations of goodness as a goal for child behavior. (DLH)

In this paper, culturally acceptable home behaviors of Puerto Rican children are contrasted with those behaviors that are demanded in classrooms of mainland United States schools. Sources of conflicts between home and classroom behaviors discussed include: (1) instability resulting from the migration process; (2) language problems; (3)…

This paper presents a series of propositions concerning processes that are at work in mentoring relationships, with each proposition accompanied by a brief discussion of the theory and research on which it is based. Examples are provided of the role of mentoring in the development of creative individuals. The propositions cover the following…