The concept of bidirectionality represents a process of mutual influence between parent and child, whereby each influences the other as well as the dyadic relationship. Despite the widespread acceptance of bidirectional models of influence, there is still a lack of integration of such models in current research designs. Research on…

Two studies investigate the relationship between the distance of an adult's face from a human newborn and the infant's looking behavior. (CM)

An observational field study documents the early appearances of group behaviors in different age groups of preschool children in communal settings in Israel. (CM)

Examines difficulties associated with the use of conversational features in the analysis of mother-infant vocalization episodes. Observations of six mother-infant dyads revealed difficulties involving (1) pooling of data; (2) the unit of analysis; and (3) selection of appropriate "expected" values for dyadic parameters used in tests of…

Supports the hypothesis that preschool children produce more private speech during problem solving after they have interacted with a collaborative adult (experienced by them as a competent helper) than after they have interacted with a non-collaborative adult. Conceptualizes private speech both as a reaction to the task and as an indirect appeal…

Suggests an explanation for the link between environment, malnutrition, and rate of mental development in children. It is argued that biological factors and difficult socioeconomic conditions interact to slow mental development by undermining the establishment and maintenance of a "syntonic,""synchronic," and "reciprocal" relationship between the…

Examines patterns of social interaction among 19 cancer patients ranging in age from 8 to 21 years and their caregivers (i.e., medical personnel, teachers, family, and friends). Conditional probability analyses of patient behavior following caregiver vocalizations at three phases of medical treatment indicate variability and change in patients'…

The social interaction and social organization patterns of 408 Israeli kindergarten children and first graders engaged in outdoor free play were observed for 40 minutes each day for three continuous weeks. (Author/CM)

Reviews different approaches used over the past two decades to study early behavioral development in infants. Reviews research in areas as physical and cognitive development and the role of adult caretakers. (BD)

Investigated the influence of dominance and friendship on behavior in a cooperative/competitive problem-solving situation among preschool peers. Mixture of quasi-agonistic and opportunistic behaviors led to high resource use; agonistic behaviors were infrequent and unrelated to resource use. (Author/RWB)

Presents a method of defining cooccurring constellations or "packages" of maternal facial-visual engagement and head or hand stimulation during face-to-face play with an infant. The functional relevance of these packages is documented in case studies of one four-month-old infant playing with his mother and a stranger. (Author/CB)