Behavior Variables Related to Citizen Education: Colloquium Papers. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, May 11-12, 1978.

The two essays in this report were presented at a colloquium on behavior variables related to citizenship education. The first essay, "Political Socialization and Citizen Competencies," by Byron G. Massialas, reviews behavioral science research as related to citizenship education and identifies the most significant findings in the field. The document illustrates that the research, which is primarily on political socialization, does not match citizenship objectives, nor do citizenship programs take into account important studies in political socialization. The author stresses that research should focus on the individual and the community, qualitative as well as quantitative data, and the development of educational programs in which individuals participate directly in political decisions. The second essay, "The Definition of Citizen Capacities and Related Psychological Research," by Judith V. Torney, suggests a conceptual framework which makes explicit the global as well as the domestic orientation of citizenship education. A review of research on pre-adult political awareness, understanding, and participation, and a discussion of developmental stages, social learning theory, and the role of modeling and reinforcement in promoting altruistic, prosocial, and cooperative behavior are provided. The document concludes by outlining criteria for exploring psychological concepts in citizenship education. (Author/KC)