The study examined the humor used by nine older adolescent and adult autistic subjects participating in a social skills group. Participants in the designated joke time told jokes which were almost all riddles, many of them preriddles and having lexical and phonological ambiguity. (Author/DB)

Analysis of the ability of 17 autistic children to recognize age and sex-related characteristics of people indicated that autistic children were markedly impaired in their ability to differentiate adults from children and males from females when compared to nonautistic retarded and normal children. (Author/DB)

Explores age and classroom differences in children's awareness of teacher expectations and in the relation between awareness and self-expectations. (PCB)

Studied self-monitoring attributes of 239 adolescents. Results showed that adolescents highly adept at self-monitoring displayed social competencies most related to interpersonal adequacy, poise, and ascendance; however, medium levels of self-monitoring were associated most with interpersonal values, maturity, and responsibility. Generally,…

Results indicated that the revisions made in Developing Understanding of Self and Others(DUSO-R) may constitute an improvement over the original DUSO particularly in terms of enhancement of self-esteem. The DUSO-R group made greater gains than did the control group with respect to total self-esteem, general perceptions of worth, and…

The article describes aspects of social-sexual education and training for mentally retarded persons. It is noted that, in addition to planned activities, adults should respond naturally to a retarded person's errors, in ways appropriate for any member of society engaging in that same behavior. (Author/CL)

Twenty-six pairs of elementary-aged learning disabled and nonhandicapped children were assessed on social perception (empathy) and social skills measures. Few differences were found between the groups on the empathy and social skills measures. A correlation between social skill and empathy was found only for the nonhandicapped group. (Author/DB)

Comparison of positive social behaviors and peer acceptance of 100 mainstreamed learning disabled and 100 nondisabled children revealed significant differences in peer acceptance and in task-related, interpersonal, environmentally and self-related behaviors. Deficits were evident in both school and home settings and were consistent across teacher,…

A communication program for hearing impaired 8- through 17-year-olds stressed a structured presentation of social and interpersonal strategies to help students feel less anxious in their contact with hearing persons. (CL)

The article describes recent issues regarding assessment of social skills of children between 7-13 years old. Primary methods of assessing social skills with this population are reviewed, and a case is made for establishing a temporary moratorium on treatment studies in the area until more psychometrically sound, multifaceted methods of assessment…

An observational study is reported in which social interactions and on-task behavior were investigated in a mainstreaming program for 20 severely multihandicapped children. It was concluded that severely multihandicapped students in this program experienced many interactions with nonhandicapped children and that their educational activities were…

The role of turn-taking in social and communication development is examined, and parents of disabled students are urged to promote "turn balance" in which the child and adult take an equal number of turns. (CL)

Evaluated social competence of 22 male borderline hypertensives in relation to cardiovascular responsivity to Behavioral Role-Play Test of assertiveness and in comparison with normotensives. Identified two distinct groups of hypertensives based on pulse pressure changes (high/low) in response to social challenge. Both groups showed deficits in…

Social mastery motivation in 11 Down syndrome (DS) and nondelayed infants was observed during social tasks that encouraged socially motivated behaviors and object-play tasks that did not. During object play, DS infants' object-directed behaviors were not appreciably lower, while social behaviors were. During social tasks, no significant difference…

Compared with 37 nonabused matched children (4-14 years old), 37 abused Ss reported fewer friendships and less ambition regarding future occupations. Scores on the Piers-Harris Self Concept Scale were significantly lower for abused Ss. (CL)