This conference paper attempts to describe some of the ecological conditions under which children's social behavior can be, and perhaps is, organized. Thirteen preschool children between 2-1/2 and 5-1/2 years of age, participated in several experiments with confederates acting as peers and with novel as well as familiar toys. Four behavior…

The biological and the cultural aspects of human play are inextricably linked and mutually influence each other. (LH)

The purpose of this research was to investigate egocentrism and to investigate the relationships between egocentrism, popularity, and certain playground behaviors for students in Grades 1-5. More than 200 students participated in the study. The results showed that: (1) egocentrism decreases with age, (2) males were less egocentric than females at…

This book presents a discussion and analysis of various theories of play behavior. The book is divided into 12 chapters. The first chapter delineates 3 criteria (intrinsic motivation, suspension of reality or make-believe, and internal locus of control) that distinguish play from nonplay behavior. Chapter 2 reviews scientific research on the…

This book explores some of the basic principles of behavior which have been derived from the study of operant conditioning and considers the phenomenon of sport in society in the light of these principles. First, some of the terms used in Skinnerian behavioral analysis are defined and explained. The second section examines the reinforcements…

This book, the first in a series on development and behavior of human infants and animals, contains a collection of articles dealing with the significance of the interaction between mother and infant and the subtle contributions that each makes to the other in shaping their ongoing dyadic behavior. It emphasizes that the infant is no mere passive…

This practicum was designed to increase parent awareness of the importance of family play interaction and to foster parents' ability to demonstrate these playskills as a couple and within the family. Questionnaires and personal interviews confirmed the need for more information on the importance of play and of age-appropriate play skills. A…