Identifies three sociological dimensions that constrain the selection, production, interpretation, and reporting of verbally manipulative behaviors; discusses two texts illustrating the dimensions; and examines some problems of conceptualization and measurement. (FL)

The study investigated the developmental effects of social reinforcement on the interview behavior of 58 mildly intellectually handicapped children (mean age 11.8 years). Findings indicated a feedback rather than a reward model explained the effects of social reinforcement on eye contact. No evidence was found for significant variations in eye…

Advocates at least a modicum of counselor structure for effective group functioning. Helping the group define goals and set limits provides the membership with a sense of purpose and assists individuals toward the achievement of those goals. (Author)

Mother-son dyads interacted with the Interpersonal Game Test. Various patterns of interacting were identified and some differences in mother-son interactions seemed related to aggression/withdrawal in children. Potential advantages of this procedure over more conventional procedures for assessing family interactions were discussed. (Author/BEF)

Presents a theoretical account of how speakers interpret that which is taken for granted in messages. Discusses research concerning enthymemes, argument theory, indirect speech acts, conversational maxims, pragmatic implication and other areas. Provides a framework for a model of how speakers interpret unspoken portions of utterances. (JMF)

Results indicated that observers familiar with a communicator's truthful behavior were more accurate in detecting deception than those who were not familiar, and that accuracy increased as self-monitoring increased. (High self-monitors are individuals particularly sensitive to the expression and self-presentation of others in social situations.)…

Examines the use of rules-based communication during problematic situations, that is, the use of talk centering on the appropriateness of particular conduct in particular contexts. Discusses the use and implications of remediation, or rule application, and legislation, or rule creation, in problematic situations. (JMF)

The study involving 10 volunteer mothers and four language delayed four-year-olds tested the hypothesis that children's language comprehension level is the major determinant of the modifications characteristic of child directed talk (CDT). (Author/SBH)

Evaluated the importance of social comparison processes in sibling and peer interaction. Experiment I assessed the influence of social comparison on male children during mother-sibling interaction and subsequent peer interaction. Experiment II assessed the influence of social comparison during peer interaction on female children's subsequent…

Provides an insight into the group process of therapy and compares and contrasts the T-group process with therapy group process. The here-and-now orientation was present in T-group and therapy-group interaction. Greater relational conflict was present in the T-group. Members of the therapy group were much more defensive than members of the…

Father role in infancy was examined through a comparison of the stimulus responses of 27 infants reared by their mothers in single-parent families with the stimulus responses of 28 infants in father-present families. (CM)

Examined toddlers' avoidance of their parents on reunion in day care settings and in laboratory situations. Also investigated the relation of avoidance to social-emotional adjustment and to the length of time in day care. (JMB)

The study examined the social interaction of nine language-handicapped children (7 to 10 years old) in a speech and language unit as compared to an equal number of regular class children. (SBH)

Takes a "tongue-in-cheek" look at employing N. A. Flanders' classroom observational technique, Interaction Process Analysis (IPA), for purposes of evaluating secondary students' reading behavior during Sustained Silent Reading. (Author)

Group play increased and solitary play decreased during the nine-month period children were studied, while parallel play did not vary much in overall occurrence. (CM)