Eleven preschool play centers in a preschool classroom were randomly sampled and observed during children's free play. Frequency of use, frequency of social and nonsocial behaviors, and quality (positive or negative) of social interactions occurring within them were recorded. A time-sampling procedure was used to obtain data. A total of 160…

The purpose of this paper is to elucidate processes involved in the sibling relationship in terms of four dimensions that are focal in the literature: imitation, dominance, agonism (negative behavior directed towards a sibling), and prosocial behavior. A number of findings on these dimensions were culled from 24 studies, 18 of which were done…

The research focused on the exploration of gender differences in interaction with infant siblings in the home and the maternal socialization of baby care in girls as opposed to boys. Observations were made of 20 families, each with 2 parents, an infant under the age of 12 months, and an older child between the ages of 46 and 102 months. Five…

One explanation for the positive relationship between alcohol consumption and violent crime considers alcohol consumption to be a socially accepted excuse for otherwise inappropriate behaviors. A policy capturing methodology was used to examine judgments of responsibility for rape. Male (N=30) and female (N=66) undergraduates received 40 profiles…

Current literature indicates the positive effect of a spiritual or religious orientation on recovery from alcohol abuse, drug addiction, codependency, and child sexual abuse, and as a personal control against deviant behavior in adolescents. Yet spiritual resources have been underutilized not only in prevention but in intervention programs. This…

In this study, questions regarding the prevalence of mutual antipathies and their relation to the behavior of individual children were examined among preadolescents and adolescents. Mutual antipathies were defined as relationships in which children mutually nominated one another as least liked on a sociometric task. A distinction was drawn between…

Many studies have shown that media violence has an effect on children's subsequent aggression. This study expands upon previous research in three directions: (1) by examining several subtypes of aggression (verbal, relational, and physical); (2) by measuring media violence exposure across three types of media (television, movies/videos, and video…

Despite previous research indicating that early negative child behavior and the quality of parent-child relationships are predictive of later externalizing problems, few investigators have attempted to trace these antecedents back to infancy. In a sample of 100 infants from low-income families, infant persistence and maternal responsiveness were…

The problems of shoplifting are increasing in importance and complexity. In the United States, the majority of those apprehended for department-store shoplifting were youths. This paper considers shoplifting in department stores, in supermarkets, on college campuses, etc., in the United States and other countries. The focus is on the psychology of…

The relationship of parent alcohol involvement, depression, and antisocial behavior to self-reported parenting practices in a sample of 79 intact alcoholic families with male children of 3-6 years of age was studied. Child rearing practices were measured with the Block Child Rearing Practices Report. Psychopathology was measured with the…

Psychological studies on personality characteristics obtained from individuals prior to being diagnosed as alcoholics are reviewed. Retrospective studies suggesting an association between childhood anti-social behavior and the subsequent problem of alcoholism are presented, supported by studies of the personality inventories of college students…

The relationship between hostility toward women and the character traits of impulsivity, anger and psychopathology were examined. The intent was to examine males' perception of the world (personality) and their construction of reality to provide some insight into what contributes to hostility and violence against women. Four-hundred eighty college…

This paper examines the elements leading to school violence in order to propose strategies to help achieve a peaceful school climate. It states that there is evidence that the brain of violent individuals seems to reveal abnormalities. Brain pathology and genetic vulnerability are only two components that may cause individuals to become antisocial…

This paper examines the conceptual and empirical relationships differentially associated with antisocial behavior and undercontrol, two concepts that frequently are confused. The personality characteristics conceptually associated with antisocial behavior were specified by seven psychologists using the California Child Q-sort (CCQ) to describe…

Early personality and environmental characteristics that predict later problematic aggression and depression in children were investigated longitudinally. A developmental psychopathology approach was taken. (This approach assumes that patterns of adaptation and maladaptation in development can best be understood when explored simultaneously and…