Discusses five areas concerning Heatherington et al.'s study: nature and nurture issues; deviance versus normative behavior in stepfamilies; context and meaning in different types of families; intersecting developmental trajectories; and gender differences. (JPB)

Ten myths and countermyths about intelligence are explored. It is argued that the desire for simplicity and publicity has led psychologists and others writing about intelligence to take positions that cannot be justified by current theory or recent data. However defined, intelligence is but one aspect of being human. (SLD)

Two lines of argument have been advanced to support the assertion that schooling makes little difference in the efforts of low status people to achieve equality or a fair chance at survival. One says that the genetic inferiority of certain races makes them incapable of benefitting from schooling. Although there is no hard biological evidence to…

Guidance for career development must be concerned not so much with helping young people learn how to earn a living as with learning how to live a life. In the early part of this century, certain conditions and attitudes prevailed which influenced the character of the career guidance profession. However, these conditions and attitudes are no longer…

"The Bell Curve" by Richard J. Herrnstein and Charles Murray has generated enormous debate as a result of its claim that there is a connection between race and intelligence. The essays of this collection respond to "The Bell Curve" in various ways. Taken together, the following offer an antidote to a work of dubious premises…

The writings of Abraham Maslow are analyzed to determine the meaning of the psychological term "self-actualization." After pointing out that self-actualization is a rare quality and that it has little to do with formal education, the author concludes that the concept has little practical relevance for teacher education. (PP)

Discusses issues considered in the book "The Bell Curve: Intelligence and Class Structure in American Life" (Richard Herrnstein, Charles Murray), which stresses the importance of genetic differences between individuals and groups. The concept of a cognitive elite, cognitive classes and social behavior, ethnic differences in cognitive…

The hypothesis of greater male variability in test results is discussed in its historical context, and reasons feminists have objected to the hypothesis are considered. The hypothesis acquires political importance if it is considered that variability results from biological, rather than cultural, differences. (SLD)

Identifies five key findings of brain research: complex inter-play between genes and environment; early experiences contribute to brain structure and capacities; early interactions affect wiring; brain development is non-linear; and a child's brain is more active than adults'. Discusses implications for early childhood environments, curriculum,…

Points out the untestability of a heredity explanation for the differences in IQs of Black children and those of White children. Suggests an environmental explanation, arguing that Black children, simply have not had the opportunity to develop their potential for abstract thinking. (HTH)

When the educational system in Ontario, Canada, moved toward a child-centered philosophy, the onus for failure was placed on the child and his or her home environment. This philosophy penalized children from working-class and non-English-speaking homes. Arguments in the nature-nurture controversy are reviewed. (PP)

Standard test results have suggested that Chicanos are less intelligent than Anglo Americans. In the contemporary educational milieu, this means that Chicanos are thus offered educational and occupational opportunities that demand less complexity, less abstraction, and less intelligence, in turn, limiting the Chicano's possibilities for achieving…

Mental illness has a catastrophic impact on the family, subjecting its members to severe burden and life stress. In addition, families are often implicated in the origins of the illness by themselves, society, and mental health professionals. New alliances with clinicians are helping to support and destigmatize these families. (AF)

This article suggests that "The Bell Curve: Intelligence and Class Structure in American Life" (Richard Herrnstein, Charles Murray), a controversial book about the relationship of intelligence to social class, has exposed a wide chasm between two major paradigms concerning the forces that shape human behavior, and that the debate has…