Reviews positive and potential negative consequences of being high or low in interpersonal trust in social life, particularly in interacting with ordinary people. Research suggests that people who trust are less likely to lie or to be unhappy and more likely to be sought out as a friend. (Author/JLF)

Institutionalized male adolescents, rated on a psychopathic behavior scale, were videotaped in an interview situation. Nonverbal and paralinguistic behaviors were analyzed. Psychopathic subjects were more intrusive toward their interviewers than nonpsychopaths. A number of other observed differences in emotional expression between the two groups…

There is no need for a special unit to be developed about courtesy. Everyday activities and situations offer ample opportunity for its practice, for children will imitate the good manners they see adults using. (Author/SJL)

Described studies directed toward development and validation of a self-report measure of social competence in dating and assertion situations. An 18-item questionnaire was derived which discriminated between client and normal populations and between clients with dating and assertion problems. It measured differential improvement following…

Examined the applicability of an expectancy/decison model to assertiveness in a nonclinical population. Results suggest that participants consider the consequences of being assertive when making a decision about how to behave. Training programs should take into account the participant's perceptions of the risks involved in being assertive.…

The Oralingua Interaction Skills Curriculum is a comprehensive model for a direct training program in social competence designed to teaching social skills to hearing impaired children. (SB)

Examined the influence of rater and ratee age on performance evaluations. Older workers received lower ratings on self-development and interpersonal skills. Younger raters gave higher ratings than older raters on interpersonal skills. The influence of age on performance ratings is consistent with previous research. (Author/JAC)

Advantages and disadvantages of methods to evaluate sociometric outcomes of mainstreaming (sociometric assessment, nomination methods, rating scale method, paired comparison method, and variations on nomination and rating scale methods) are considered. (CL)

Examined the relationship among four measures of third- grade children's social competence (behavioral, sociometric, teacher completed, and child self-report) and their relationship to Metropolitan Achievement Test grade- equivalent scores. Among the results it was found that children with high academic achievement scores were liked by and…

Examined changes in low-accepted children's behavior and peer acceptance resulting from a social learning approach to social skill training. Three social skills were taught: asking questions, leading, and offering peer support. Trained children performed significantly better at follow-up than did control children. Results generalized to classroom…

Presents an overview of how the computerized group analysis technique using PRONANA5 is aiding group communication instruction at the University of Oklahoma. (JMF)

This study of mother-infant pairs investigates sex differences and age differences (infants of 6, 9, and 12 months of age) in mother and infant initiations of interactions and responses to the other's initiations. (SS)

Medical records of 150 patients (randomly assigned to groups in which screening for depression, physician sensitization about depression, and informational feedback to physicians) were reviewed for physician notations about depression and its treatment. Previsit screening devices, it is suggested, may increase physician attention to psychological…

A training course for negotiators is presented, based upon models of learning processes, negotiation behaviors, and learner expectations. Course structure, the importance of practice and feedback, the place of concept formation, and evaluation are discussed. (SK)

Abilities of physicians to express emotions through voice tone were assessed and related to physician personality and patient ratings. Aspects of expressive ability were correlated with personality traits, and expressive ability was related to patients' satisfaction with their physicians. (Author)