Recent research has developed methods of assessing the function of generic, nonindividualized social interactions. The purpose of this type of assessment is to provide a measure of how an individual may respond to the types of interactions readily available in the natural environment. To date, no research has evaluated how the social time…

Many prosocial behaviors involve social risks such as speaking out against a popular opinion, bias, group norm, or authority. However, little is known about whether adolescents' prosocial tendencies develop over time with their perceptions of social risks. This accelerated longitudinal study used within-subject growth-curve analyses to test the…

Many students with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) have delays learning to recognize emotions. Social behavior is also challenging, including initiating interactions, responding to others, developing peer relationships, and so forth. In this single case design study we investigated the relationship between use of computer software ("Mind Reading:…

When teaching individuals with autism it is important to pay particular attention to fitness and movement as these individuals are less likely than typical children to achieve the recommended level physical activity. Common characteristics of autism spectrum disorder can include deficits in communication and social behavior, which may limit…

Students classified as emotionally disturbed receiving special education services will drop out of school at a rate of 56% nationwide, and one out of three will be incarcerated within 3 years of leaving school. This study provides school personnel and clinicians with new information regarding underlying attachment difficulties and aggression in…

In most of our social life we communicate and relate to others. Successful interpersonal relating is crucial to physical and mental well-being and growth. This study, using the still-face paradigm, demonstrates that even human neonates (n = 90, 3-96 hr after birth) adjust their behavior according to the social responsiveness of their interaction…

The authors attempt to evaluate the effectiveness of education abroad from the standpoint of assimilation of Western sociocultural models and their subsequent reproduction under the conditions of Russia. The research strategy and the focus on the subjective perception of attending school abroad dictated the choice of the interview method for the…

LEGO[R] therapy and the Social Use of Language Programme (SULP) were evaluated as social skills interventions for 6-11 year olds with high functioning autism and Asperger Syndrome. Children were matched on CA, IQ, and autistic symptoms before being randomly assigned to LEGO or SULP. Therapy occurred for 1 h/week over 18 weeks. A no-intervention…

It was found that the going-together couples held traditional orientations toward each other with commitment to marriage forming a strong part of this orientation. The effects on marriage rates for living-together couples were seen to depend upon which of the partner's positions prevailed. (Author)

Background: Difficulties with social interaction and understanding lie at the heart of the communication disorder that characterises the autism spectrum. This study sought to improve social communication for individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) by means of a groupwork intervention focusing on social and emotional perspective-taking,…

The purpose of this study was to develop and apply an experimental approach for teaching assertive behaviors in selective problematic interpersonal situations encountered by homosexuals. Results of a single-subject interrupted time-series analysis suggest that the client displayed significantly more assertive behaviors on four of the six criterion…

Theorists have predicted that individuals in a relationship initially follow social norms and later follow the mutually-agreed-upon norms which have evolved from the relationship. Since social norms prescribe sex-stereotyped behavior, an androgynous person may initially behave in a sex-typed way. Same-sex pairs (N=26) of undergraduates, matched on…

Kindergarten children (N=90) were given opportunities to report to their class during "sharing time" the cooperative or friendly behaviors of their peers which had occurred during the day. Cooperative behavior increased and aggressive acts decreased when peers reported prosocial behavior to the class. (Author)

Participants in experiential groups initially use constructs which are different for referring to other members of the T groups than those they use with people making up their "real life groups." Experiential groups are seen by the participants as a "privileged social space" which permits different ways of relating. (Author)

Describes experiments in which microcomputers were placed in large and small preschool classrooms to examine which free-play activities were and were not affected by microcomputer's presence, sex differences in microcomputer preference and use, social interactions occurring around microcomputers, and whether these interactions differ in frequence…