Examines peer group perceptions of 312 students in grades 5-12. Early and middle adolescents placed more value on being in a popular group; perceived more conformity, antagonism, and leadership in their groups; and reported more antagonistic interactions with those outside their groups than did preadolescents and late adolescents. (RJC)

Studied genetic and environmental origins of individual differences in adults' (N=386) ratings of their current family environment using Moos Family Environment Scales (FES). Found 25 percent of adults' FES scores due to genetic differences. Found environment in which they were reared had little effect on adults' ratings of their family…

Examines the correlations among measures of social cognition, social competence, and naturalistic social behaviors of 23 kindergartners. Negative or aggressive comments were significantly related to performance on the test of social cognition. Rating scales completed by the teacher emerged as the most accurate gauges of observed social behaviors.…

Investigated the relation between social status and discourse skills in 54 children of 43-66 months. Liked children were more inclined than disliked children to direct their initiations clearly, speak to both interaction partners, respond contingently to others, acknowledge others, and reinitiate when rejecting.(RJC)

Examines problems of the aged in organized crime, basing discussion on organized crime bosses over age 60 operating in Italy, the United States, and Israel. Looks at problems stemming from normative system in organized crime, role of the aged, intergenerational problems, fears of the aged, excuses and justifications, standards of life, and…

Outlines a cognitive model of the self-system, detailing the structural representation of self-relevant information in memory and the processes involved in retrieving and utilizing this information. Reports five experiments supporting the model. (MS)

Explores problems and solutions related to dealing with difficult people, specifically with those people encountered in the language-learning lab, including clients and employees. Classic types of difficult people include the bull, the fox, the time bomb, the whiner, the stone wall, the ultra agreeable, the bump-on-the-log, the know-it-all, the…

Analysis of home videotapes of autistic and normally developing children's first-year birthday parties found that autistic children displayed fewer social and joint attention behaviors and more autistic symptoms. Four behaviors (pointing, showing objects, looking at others, and orienting to name) correctly classified 10 of 11 autistic children and…

Used a teacher rating scale and coded videotaped observations to examine 30 toddlers' emerging social competence in an unfamiliar peer group during a 4-week summer camp. Found a correlation between the prosocial component of the teacher rating scale and observations of children's interactive-functional play and overall rate of interactive play…

Resolution of serious behavior problems requires individual functional assessment of the events that predict and maintain the challenging behavior and identification of contextual factors that are relevant to effective behavioral support. Functional assessment can involve review of school records, interviews, rating scales, direct observation, and…

The Student-Assisted Functional Assessment Interview identifies antecedent events, ecological variables, and consequences that can be modified to improve a student's classroom behavior. The assessment tool solicits information directly from students about their preferences and their appropriate and inappropriate behaviors. Interview results can…

Outlines an explanatory framework for psychological sex differences, one that is anchored in the new theoretical paradigm of evolutionary psychology. This paradigm rejects the dichotomy between biology and environment and provides a new metatheory of why sex differences exist, where they exist, and in what contexts they are expressed. (GR)

Reviews existing evidence and presents new evidence supporting the view that gender segregation in play may be in part the result of gender differences in physiological and behavioral reactions to emotional arousal and its regulation. Suggests that differences in contexts that elicit arousal in boys and girls may also contribute to gender…

Examined kindergarten social studies activities in Greece and kindergarten teachers' attitudes and training concerning the application of such activities. Found that teachers seem to understand the importance of social studies, and most occupy their students with social studies activities to a satisfactory extent. Those who did not cited lack of…

Addresses the potential of camp to promote self-esteem and nurture a sense of community. Summarizes articles in this journal issue that focus on individual and group behavior including homesickness, how camps can promote positive attitudes toward disabled campers, and a camp program that provides respite care for families of children with AIDS.…