Introduces purpose of symposium: to discuss research which explores the factors determining how a child, faced with obtaining some goal or fulfilling some criterion of performance, responds to given instructional or evaluative cues. Delineates variety of research strategies employed. (JH)

The first study examined preschool children's looks directed toward male and female adults. More than one adult of each sex participated, and measures were taken of eye contact as well as of exploratory behavior. The second study examined children's looks toward adults in relation to their interpretation of an adult's gaze. (RH)

Describes the structure of spontaneous episodes of dyadic play and suggests some of the basic abilities which underlie social play, based on observation of 36 15-20 minute videotaped play sessions involving groups of three children each, ages 3 1/2 to 5 1/2 years. (ED)

Discusses the social development of infants in terms of a set of tasks which include identity, culturation, and reproduction. Focuses on the task of identity, the role of self-awareness in relationships, and the relationship between identity and emotional life. (RJC)

Two studies examined the relationship between children's perceived social control and their visual reactions to videotapes of positive, neutral, or fearful child-doctor interactions. Found that children with high levels of social control showed high visual engagement when viewing the fearful scenes, whereas low-control children showed relatively…

The amount of adult direction was experimentally manipulated, and its effects on social and exploratory behaviors were examined. Children from preschools with varying levels of adult-directed activity were included in the study to assess parallels in the effect of adult direction in experimental and naturally occurring school situations.…

Examines imitative interchanges of 18 mothers and their 10-to 14-month-old infants during two natural situations, bath time and free play. Infants' and mothers' replications of vocal, verbal, and motoric acts were observed. (NH)

A total of 33 hearing and 29 deaf preschoolers were observed over seven months during outdoor free play at school. Three types of peer relationships were examined: those between nonfriends, between temporary friends, and between long-term friends. The differential functions of these relationships are discussed. (NH)

Raises the need to reexamine Piaget's model of development in terms of its capacity to incorporate instances of cognitive regression into the structural framework of the theory. (CS)

Research described by Walton and Sedlak ("Merrill-Palmer Quarterly," v28, n3, p389-412, 1982) is used to illustrate a movement within the general area of socialization research toward the incorporation of concepts from subareas of psychology. (MP)

Examined the relations of preschool and kindergarten children's responses to hypothetical social problem situations expressed through puppet interaction to the children's general social behavior at school, behavior in potential social conflict situations, and temperamental characteristics. Children's enacted friendliness and aggression were…

Evaluates the degree to which the social-referencing perspective provides a valid explanation of some features of infant behavior. (MP)

It is generally assumed, but infrequently documented, that naturally-occurring maternal "packages" of stimulation make a functional difference in the organization of the infant's concurrent social behavior. This study aims to document that these maternal kinesic-rhythmic-facial packages have functional significance for an infant's…

Investigated representational and social pretend play behaviors of 52 preschoolers as a function of age and sex. Play behaviors differed depending on the age and sex of the pretenders. Children did not significantly alter their style of play from one playmate or group to another. (RJC)

Notes that functional approach to social dominance or resource control advances important and unique developmental questions not suggested by structuralist approaches. States that the functional approach to social dominance centers on consequences of competition first and form of behavior second. Notes two areas for further research: whether…