Assigned nursing home residents (N=59) to one of three conditions: task-oriented peer counseling group, insight-oriented peer counseling group, or control. Task group increased in internal locus of control and life satisfaction; insight group increased in internal locus of control and trust; controls decreased in trust. (Author/ABL)

The article proposes a six-stage model of the development of communication forms and functions during the prelinguistic period. Applications to the clinical treatment of severely developmentally disabled persons concern expanded targets and procedures for assessment and treatments which are socially interactive and responsive. (DB)

Presents a classroom demonstration that reveals how the students' self-monitoring orientations are meaningfully related to their commitment in dating relationships. Shows how those high in self-monitoring tend to adopt an uncommitted orientation to dating relationships, and discusses how this exercise can lead to further classroom study.…

Parents must work actively with teachers to encourage the social integration of disabled children in mainstream classrooms. The ability to initiate and maintain positive peer relationships is necessary for healthy cognitive and social growth in all children, and it helps the disabled helps to overcome destructive cycles of rejection and isolation.…

Reviews problems relating to tobacco, alcohol, and drug use among American-Indians. Describes bicultural competence skills approach which proved successful for preventing substance abuse among American-Indian adolescents at posttest and follow-up on measures of substance-use knowledge, attitudes, and interactive skills, and on self-reported rates…

To help adolescents resolve problems with self-esteem, communication, conflict resolution, sex roles, and expectations, the author (a former divorce counselor) developed Dynamics of Relationships program allowing youngsters a chance to talk openly about sensitive personal issues. Piloted in Washington, D.C., schools, the program depends on…

The effectiveness of a training program in conversational skills was evaluated with seven community-dwelling mildly and moderately mentally retarded adults. Training sessions consisted of instructions, modeling, and behavioral rehearsal. Substantial improvements in targeted behaviors in generalization settings was found after treatment and…

This research examined the relationships between ego functioning in adolescence and two domains of operational thinking: social interpersonal reasoning and physical-mathematical reasoning in 139 high school seniors. Results indicated significant differences between males and females in patterns of correlations and in patterns of relationships in a…

Examines the effects of providing different reasons for young children inteacting with a peer during play. Shows that dispositional or situational information about an unknown peer affects children's impressions of that peer differently, depending on the age of the child. (HOD)

Examined social interactions among developmentally disabled workers (N=30) and the social context of interactions during work and breaks in sheltered and nonsheltered work settings. Studied workers' initiation patterns and the general structure of workers' conversations as well as the social context for these interactions. (Author/ABB)

The purpose of this study was to determine the strengths and needs of first-year secondary teachers, procedures that could be of help in improving practice, and causes for leaving teaching after the first year. Results are discussed. (MT)

The author states that marketing is a basic skill that is important in the workplace and in various social contexts. Thus, he advocates that a basic marketing course be required of all high school students. A plan to achieve this goal is presented. (CH)

Responds to Belsky's critique of the Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale and suggests explanations for the disparity in results when using the Scale as an intervention device with new families. (HOD)

Explores children's understanding of a variety of interpersonal events, focusing mainly on the question of whether, and in what way, their conceptions of these events were heterogeneous or undifferentiated. (HOD)

Examines correlational studies which consistently show significant, positive relationships between congruence and academic performance and persistence, job satisfaction, stability of choice, perceived congruence, and personality, but nonsignificant relationships between congruence and self-concept or sociability. More complex research designs…