Children weakly bonded to adults are dependent on peers for approval and may reinforce one another's problem behavior. Serious research on countering negative peer influence began a half-century ago as Ashley Weeks of New York University studied the Highfields project for delinquent youth. There is now clear evidence that, to reverse negative climates, adults and youth must form respectful alliances and work together to solve problems. This results in positive peer cultures where conflict is replaced by cooperation and helping. This issue explores the practice and research evidence base for building positive climates in schools and youth settings. Guest editor is Erik Laursen, UMFS, Richmond, Virginia.
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