This study explores the relationship between identity development variables on the one hand, and aggression and peer conflict on the other; Results showed a direct relationship between internalizing symptoms and relational aggression, existential anxiety and reactive aggression, and an inverse relationship between identity exploration and proactive aggression. While preliminary, these findings suggest some potentially fruitful avenues for using the promotion of positive identity development to aid bullying prevention efforts.

The impetus for this study came from my own experiences at the pre-schools. I noticed that in the pre-school there are different types of conflicts that need to be resolved or managed every day. How conflicts are handled by pre-school teachers seems to be dependent on how each pre-school teacher responds to the conflict. In connection with this, the aim of this study is to examine pre-school teachers' perceptions of the interpersonal conflict between children and how these conflicts are handled. Three research questions were formulated to attain this aim: a) how do pre-school teachers perceive the interpersonal conflict between children at pre-school? b) how are children's interpersonal conflict managed according to pre-school teachers? c) what role do pre-school teachers consider themselves to have during the children's interpersonal conflict management? The theoretical framework in this study is based on Richard Cohen's The ideal system of conflict resolution, that describes four different levels of conflict strategies and how they work systematically. The study employs qualitative method and semi-structured interview as a tool to acquire information to be analyzed. The semi-structured interview conducted with six pre-school teachers. Interview and the conversations were audio-recorded and transcribed. The study employed thematic analysis and generated the following themes: a) view on peers’ conflict, b) conflict management and c) pre-schools teacher’s role during conflict management. The findings and the conclusions drawn are that awareness of causes of children’s interpersonal conflicts give the pre-school teacher confidence and they can see that the children develop social skills through the conflicts. The study emphasises the importance of preventive work before conflict happens, such as to work to instil basic values and good friendship with the pre-schoolers. In addition, the study emphasises the importance communication during conflict management, and the role of the pre-school teacher as a mediator, facilitator and guide.

The purpose of the study is to investigate the development of normative understanding and its relation to emotional states. Two samples of late 3- and 5-year-old Turkish pre-school children were studied. We adopted a peer conflict paradigm in which we taught two children conflicting rules for playing a game and asked them to play the game together, later (incompatible condition). Since children had learned different rules we expected them to protest when their partners played the game with a different rule. Results revealed that both 3- and 5-year-old children were competent at understanding the normative force of the rules. Yet, they did this in a context-sensitive manner. While they protested their partner in the incompatible condition, they did not protest when their partner performed the same action in a different game context where both rules had been taught to children as two alternative ways of playing (compatible condition). Moreover, we investigated children&rsquo / s emotional states &ndash / especially annoyance and anger &ndash / throughout their interactions. We found a different pattern between 3- and 5-year-olds: 3-year-olds were more annoyed and angry in the incompatible condition than compatible condition. On the other hand, 5-year-olds&rsquo / emotional state of being annoyed/angry was not found to be different in the compatible and incompatible condition. Summing up the evidence from normative and emotional responses, even though 5-year-olds protested significantly more in the incompatible than compatible condition, they were not more &lsquo / annoyed and angry&rsquo / . Furthermore, to investigate the possible related mechanisms of normative understanding, we conducted theory of mind and executive functioning tests and collected temperamental and emotion regulation characteristics by questionnaires completed by mothers. Yet, none of these variables were found to be related with normative responses of children when age was factored out in a linear regression model.

Text messaging, e-mail, instant messaging, and social networking sites are changing the way people interact with each other. The popularity of these communication technologies among emerging adults in particular has grown exponentially, with little accompanying research to understand their influences on psychosocial development. This study explores the relationship between communication technology usage (text messaging, e-mail, instant messaging, and social networking) and adolescent adjustment among 268 high school students. It was hypothesized that use of communication technology would be related to psychological adjustment, including identity development, relationship attachment and peer conflict. Participants were recruited from three public high schools in central Florida (69% female, 81.9% White). Time spent using communication technology was significantly correlated with psychological symptom severity (i.e. anxiety and depression), identity distress, peer aggression, and existential anxiety. It was also significantly but negatively correlated with relationship avoidance. Degree of usage of communication technology for interpersonal communication was significantly correlated with peer aggression, relationship anxiety, and existential anxiety. Those with a preoccupied style (high in relationship anxiety, low in relationship avoidance) spent significantly more time using communication technology than those in the dismissive (high in avoidance, low in anxiety), fearful (high in both), and secure (low in both) styles. Further analyses and their implications for adolescent development will be discussed.

The importance of simultaneous consideration of forms and functions in youth measures of aggressive behavior is well established. Competing models have presented these highly interrelated constructs as either independent (e.g., reactive or overt) or paired factors (e.g., reactive and overt). The current study examines these models in the context of assessing the viability of a new self-report measure, the Peer Conflict Scale – 20 Item Version. Confirmatory factor analyses were conducted on PCS 20 responses from 1,048 school-age youth living in the Gulf Coast region. Both models significantly improved upon one or two-factor alternatives, and demonstrated partial invariance across gender and grade. The models showed comparable levels of fit to the data, though some loadings for the independent factors model were non-significant. Results encourage use of the PCS 20 across research settings and developmental contexts, while also demonstrating the viability of a paired factors model of aggression.

School bullying is becoming a problem throughout the world. It is deemed necessary that schools become safer environments for teaching and learning to take place. This study focused specifically on the impact of bullying, educationally and psychologically, on primary school learners. In the literature review conducted, research studies showed that learners were clearly affected by bullying. An empirical investigation, which included four individual sessions and a focus group session, was undertaken to determine what the effects of bullying were on the victims. Transcriptions were made of all the interviews and the data was then analysed to determine what the main themes were. The investigation concluded that bullying does affect learners educationally and psychologically. Based on the results, guidelines were provided for schools, parents, educators and the Department of Education. / Psychology of Education / M. Ed. (Guidance and Counselling)

School bullying is becoming a problem throughout the world. It is deemed necessary that schools become safer environments for teaching and learning to take place. This study focused specifically on the impact of bullying, educationally and psychologically, on primary school learners. In the literature review conducted, research studies showed that learners were clearly affected by bullying. An empirical investigation, which included four individual sessions and a focus group session, was undertaken to determine what the effects of bullying were on the victims. Transcriptions were made of all the interviews and the data was then analysed to determine what the main themes were. The investigation concluded that bullying does affect learners educationally and psychologically. Based on the results, guidelines were provided for schools, parents, educators and the Department of Education. / Psychology of Education / M. Ed. (Guidance and Counselling)