Examined association between social cognition and social performance in 18 young male offenders. Social functioning of delinquent sample showed degree of disadvantage. Sex offenders did not differ from non-sex offenders on any measures. Although social perception scores correlated with social performance scores, scores on social problem-solving…

Activity book helps elementary students learn about peace and see themselves as peacemakers and peacekeepers. Students are introduced to literary and historical figures who have worked for peace and won the Nobel Peace Prize. Activities teach students that peace means more than calm situations or absence of war. (SM)

Etiquette serves as a defense of the social order while hiding that purpose from its beneficiaries. Although people believe their manners guarantee integrity, politically "innocent" powerful people are often unintentionally offensive to people of a different class, ethnicity, or gender. (SK)

Describes an assignment for a business communication course in which students give an oral presentation on some aspect of business manners and etiquette, thus increasing their awareness of the impact of social graces on communication in the business setting. (SR)

Some special education students misuse their sexuality to achieve popularity, flaunt sex-related language to gain attention, or demonstrate social naivete. To help these students categorize their real-life relationships, two consultants devised the circles concept. Six color-coded concentric circles reproduced on a life-sized floor mat clearly…

Investigated relationship between extracurricular activities and psychosocial development of college students using academic autonomy, clarification of purpose, and mature interpersonal relationship as comparative variables. Found that becoming involved in extracurricular activities generally promoted development of academic autonomy and aided in…

Reviews evidence concerning Interagency Committee on Learning Disabilities's proposal to include social skills deficits as specific learning disability (LD). Proposes three hypotheses: causal, concomitant, and correlational. Found most support for correlational hypothesis, but proposes fourth, functional relationship hypothesis as most…

Presents two subtypes of learning disabilities (LD) to illustrate hypotheses relating to psychosocial functioning of children with LD: that LD subtypes are manifestations of basic neuropsychological deficits; that subtypes may lead to problems in academic and/or psychosocial functioning; and that relationship between neuropsychological deficits,…

After reviewing previous research on speech acts, this article describes a study that analyzed the behavior of speakers of standard Italian in refusing an offer of food. The importance of "face" is explained, and the refusal strategies are classified into four categories: explicit, tactical, decisive, and conclusive. (CFM)

This paper reviews the research on loneliness as an emotional consequence of relationship difficulties in childhood and its particular relevance to children with language difficulties. Suggestions are made concerning intervention efforts to reduce loneliness for children with language problems. (Author/DB)

Uses the emergent goals framework of G. Saxe (1991) to illustrate how the mathematical problems that emerge in children's play of Monopoly are interwoven with their developing competencies and social interactions. Findings from six groups of four children each, ranging in age from 8 to 14 years, show that the mathematics that emerged during play…

Communication and interpersonal effectiveness skills training can help older adults adapt to aging. Skills include expressing feelings in "I" statements, reflecting, validating self and others, and giving and receiving positive feedback. (SK)

Critically examines and integrates studies that have evaluated social-skill functioning in delinquent and substance-abusing youth utilizing role-play assessment. Distinguishes the meaning of "social skills," describes "role play assessment," and discusses the relationship of illicit drug use and conduct disorder among adolescents. (Author/EMK)

Three persons with traumatic brain injury (TBI) were matched with four community participants for leisure activities. Community participants were trained and were given specific interactions suggestions. Integrated social contacts were measured using a multiple-baseline design across participants. Results suggest that social integration can be…

Two studies explored relations between young children's peer social skills and theory of mind. Study 1 found positive, but moderate, zero-order correlations between false-belief measures and social skills, and false belief accounted for a significant amount of additional variance in social skills after covarying age and language measures. Study 2…