Describes a group-counseling approach to teaching elementary school students social skills designed to reduce their use of aggressive behaviors in the school environment. Eight sessions are described that have activities designed to influence the affective and behavioral components of these behaviors. Several suggestions are described to assess…

Critical factors in the behavior of Chicano gang youth are family disintegration, cultural dissolution, abusive family relationships, and histories of interpersonal violence. Specific treatment modalities (individual, family, group) are discussed, and the importance of a multimodal approach is emphasized. Case studies highlight family dynamics and…

A public health model of prevention and intervention is applied to violent, aggressive, and antisocial student behaviors. Stressed is secondary prevention through school intervention by such means as comprehensive school planning, behavioral management strategies, student supervision, and providing for prosocial activity. Primary and tertiary…

Monty Roberts is a real life "horse whisperer" who creates connections between horses and humans. This article extends these concepts to the challenge of connecting with guarded, distrustful youth. It presents a description of one youth, followed by seven profiles that are compilations of the work of Nicholas Long, Frank Fecser, and Mary Wood…

This paper is a report of a singe-subject reading intervention that was conducted as part of a larger study. The subject's pre-test scores were too low to meet the criterion for including his results in the larger study (Ashcroft, 2004), but he was allowed to participate in an individualized version of the treatment. Because S's social and reading…

Functional behavioral assessment (FBA) is an assessment procedure used to identify the reasons for children's misbehavior. In this article we provide an overview of one approach to FBA known as "multimodal functional behavioral assessment" (MFBA) that provides a comprehensive examination of the causes of children's disruptive behavior. The…

Student violations of behavior norms affect the learning of others, the teaching of the instructor, and the atmosphere of the classroom.

In contrast to the plethora of literature that suggests that the increasing gulf between teachers and young people is due to the shifting interests and expectations of young people, the focus of this paper is on the roles teachers play in this relationship. Provoking our interest is a concern that some of the assumptions that underpin "mainstream"…

The study of theory is often a daunting and uninviting, if not terrifying, introduction to sociology courses. Most students do not see theory as helpful intellectual hardware that can facilitate understanding, interpretation and construction of social knowledge. This is true not only in theory courses, but also in many sociology courses including…

In an effort to increase schools' capacity to adequately address anti-social behaviors, school districts around the country are implementing zero tolerance policies and strengthening sanctions for rule violations. Although often well intentioned, these reactive responses are largely ineffective and ultimately displace the problem. The purpose of…

Many terms have been used to describe the perseverative behavior displayed by children with autism, including "circumscribed, narrow, obsessive, restricted, or special interests." Past researchers have focused on the punishment of such perseverative behaviors by individuals diagnosed with autism, and many parents and teachers also may be inclined…

Objective: Contrary to media headlines and public perceptions, there is little evidence of a substantial link between exposure to violent interactive games and serious real-life violence or crime. Conclusion: Further research is needed on whether violent games may affect less dramatic but real concerns such as bullying, fighting, or attitudes and…

As we endeavor to assist people with autism and other serious disabilities increase their capacity to function appropriately and successfully in the everyday environments of the real world, we generally focus on the skills and behaviors of the person himself. While this is important, another essential component of the process is commonly…

Students with emotional or behavioral disorders (E/BD) are characterized by academic deficits and classroom behavioral problems. The relationship between problem behavior and academic difficulties is complex, and some researchers have hypothesized that the classroom behavior problems of students with E/BD are responses to aversive stimuli, namely…

Alternatives is a project designed for youngsters, ages 11-15, who display serious conduct problems and severe learning deficiencies. The primary goal of the project is to prevent the development of a chronic antisocial orientation among youngsters who are at high risk for such an outcome. The interventions employed at Alternatives are based on…