The frequency and distribution of social problem-solving strategies, goals, targets, and outcomes were coded during preschoolers' free play. Flexibility and persistence in problem-solving sequences were examined, and the relative importance of strategies, goals, targets, and the identity of the problem solver in predicting social problem-solving…

The effects of remarriage on the parent's and the child's social behavior were studied by comparing 12 children whose biological mothers had remarried, 12 children whose mothers were divorced but had not remarried, and 12 children from intact, father-present families. (Author/RH)

Evaluated whether children view relationally manipulative behaviors as "aggressive." In study one, relational aggression was the most frequently cited angry behavior for girls' interactions; physical aggression was most frequently cited for boys. In study two, relational aggression and verbal insults were the most frequently cited harmful…

Investigates factors of social influence strategies employed by 195 children aged 11-15 and 114 mothers. Girls reported more frequent use and success of strategies anticipating noncompliance and boys more frequent use and success of autonomous strategies. Mothers reported differential reinforcement of boys' and girls' strategies. (RJC)

This study found race and sex differences with regard to proximity, smiling, and touching among preschoolers who posed for photographs with a same-sex peer and with an infant. (PCB)

Investigates 57 three- to five-year-old children's sharing of preferred and nonpreferred food with same-sex peers as a function of (1) whether or not the children had previous experience as recipients and (2) whether or not the child was shared with during the experience as a recipient. (HOD)

Rated gender boundary violation and maintenance of 47 preadolescents participating in a summer day camp. Found that children who violated gender boundaries tended to be unpopular with peers; and children who maintained boundaries were judged by camp counselors to be more competent socially than children who violated boundaries. (MDM)

Explores links between aggression in elementary school children and their perceptions of self-efficacy as well as their response-outcome expectancies. (HOD)

Reports on a multimeasure, multicontext study of the relationship between father-child and mother-child play and children's competence with preschool peers. Involves 13 boys and 14 girls three to four years of age, and their parents. Children were videotaped while playing with each parent, and their social competence with peers was evaluated.…

Social behaviors of 10- and 12-month-old infants were studied as a function of experimental context (home and laboratory) and experimental history (home rearing and day care). Results suggested that the experimental context influenced infant social behaviors. No differences attributable to rearing condition as a main effect were found. (Author/SB)

Neither content of instructions nor personality characteristics are effective independently, but rather they combine to produce a rather clear-cut joint effect, with the dominant rather than the warm person's instruction being followed. (Author)