Examined effects of neurolinguistic mirroring versus nonmirroring of selected nonverbal behaviors on empathy, trustworthiness, and positive interaction in cross-cultural setting among 60 Choctaw adolescents and Caucasian female counselors. Results indicated significant mirroring effects on the empathy scale of the Barrett-Lennard Relationship…

This study examined four older adults at the time of retirement to determine the extent to which there was intraindividual variability and stability in self-concept during the retirement transition, and to see whether patterns of change were replicable across subjects. Results showed that three to four dimensions of self-concept variability…

Six-session systematic assertiveness training program based on social cognitive theory and focusing on peer interactions and social responsibility was presented to 22 sixth graders. Compared to control group, students who received training performed significantly better on test of cognitive acquisition of the information at posttest and six-month…

School boards need not rely solely on experience, instinct, or subjectivity when judging teacher performance. If the teaching goal is student achievement, then effective teachers work toward two objectives: making the most of available instructional time and involving students in instruction. The key is managing student behavior and instituting…

Students with behavioral disorders (grades 4-9), regular education students, teachers, and parents (total n=383) completed the Adolescent Social Skills Survey. Students with behavioral disorders rated all items lower in importance than other groups, rated interpersonal skills higher than other skills on the survey, and rated compliance and…

Reports a study that identified the dimensional structure of mentoring and other support behaviors that occur among adults in elementary schools. A questionnaire about support relationships completed by 488 elementary teachers found 6 factors that were dimensions of support: mentoring, supporting, collaborating, career strategizing, supervising,…

The author of "Life Centered Career Education" (LCCE) comments on reasons for the curriculum's success, what LCCE offers for the 1990s, how easy it is for a school system to implement LCCE, how LCCE can be used in mainstreamed settings, and what is needed to implement a comprehensive program like LCCE. (JDD)

The phenomenon of social skills is explored in the context of school superintendency, and findings of a study designed to assess social communications skills of 236 practicing superintendents are reported. Reasons for the discrepancy between the high skills expected and the low to average skills actually found are discussed. (SLD)

Compared social competence of 566 elementary students classified as learning disabled, mentally retarded, behavior disordered, low-achieving, or regular education students. Found significant group effects on three subscales and total score of Walker-McConnell Scale of Social Competence and School Adjustment. Sex differences also were found, with…

Conducted meta-analysis of studies concerning social skills of children with learning disabled (LD). Children with LD were less liked and more likely to be rejected than normal achieving children. Children with LD were more likely to be rated as aggressive, immature, suffering personality problems, and having difficulty attending. Variations were…

Examined differences among middle-aged, middle-class female adult children of alcoholics (ACOAs) and female non-ACOAs with regard to interpersonal and intrapersonal functioning. ACOAs report higher levels of depression, marital conflict, and parental role distress; lower levels of self-esteem, perceived social support, family cohesion, marital…

This article describes a prototype videodisc method of assessing social competence, knowledge, and perception in children with disabilities. It notes major hardware features (Macintosh IIx computer), software features (using SuperCard), improved examinee response modes, and improved data entry techniques. (DB)

Tested hypotheses that low self-regard contributes over time to peer victimization and that behavioral vulnerabilities are more likely to lead to victimization when children have low self-regard than when they have healthy self-regard. Found that both hypotheses were supported with third through seventh graders, especially when self-regard was…

Discusses how the World Wide Web can be used as a major resource for teaching projects and building team skills. Presents a project assignment using the World Wide Web that might be included when teaching a unit in the primary grades on likenesses and differences. (CR)

Reintroduces the ethological concept of social dominance, and interprets it from a strategy-based perspective. Maintains that, by adopting this approach to social dominance and explicitly incorporating developmental processes and uniquely human capacities, human social-dominance patterns appear to be more similar to primate patterns than commonly…