The present study compared the presence of sibling versus non-sibling partners in relation to the exploratory behaviors of toddlers in a novel environment. It was predicted that young children would use siblings as a secure base from which to explore the environment even in the absence of an adult attachment figure, whereas the presence of a…

The quality and stability of sibling relationships during adulthood were assessed by comparing Thematic Apperception Test (TAT) themes of sibling affiliation, conflict, and separation at the periods of active child-rearing (CP) and the empty nest (EN). Thirty men and 30 women, equally divided between the two life stages, were randomly selected…

This study examined (1) the psychometric qualities of a modified version of the Parent Behavior Form (PBF) designed to obtain ratings of parental behavior toward a child from four different family members, and (2) the effects of aggregating across raters on the reliability and generalizability of ratings of parental behavior. Subjects were 744…

A study examined repair sequences in talk between two German-English bilingual children and between parent and child within a nuclear family in which German is generally spoken. Data were drawn from tape recordings and developmental diaries kept on the two preschool children. Patterns of parent-child and child-child corrections were examined. In…

Research has found firstborns to be more ambitious, rule-oriented, authority-oriented, helpful, and responsible, and less oriented toward peers, their own needs, social activities, and group cooperation than are laterborns. To explore whether those occupying different birth order positions perceive themselves as psychologists have described them,…

Therapist describes work with a family troubled about the behavior of a preadolescent daughter. Through the session the group is able to discuss the sexual fantasies and child-play that have occurred, and each member is better able to open up to the others. Relationships improve. (CJ)

This study investigates communication and play behaviors of a deaf preschooler and his younger brother. Observations of four free play sessions suggests that to some extent the normal pattern of sibling interaction was altered. Videotape analysis of the play sessions revealed that a substantial number of the hearing child's communications were not…

LOW BIRTH WEIGHT CHILDREN WERE STUDIED LONGITUDINALLY TO DETERMINE WHETHER--(1) THE RELATIVE INTELLECTUAL IMPAIRMENT OF PREMATURE CHILDREN IS STATIC OR CHANGES WITH TIME, (2) A LOW BIRTH WEIGHT CHILD NOT NOTED TO BE IN NEUROLOGICAL DISTRESS COULD HAVE A POOR PROGNOSIS, AND (3) SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL AND EMOTIONAL PROBLEMS COULD ARISE AS A CONSEQUENCE…

This study of young men from two-child families shows that birth-order effect and level of ability were not influenced by length of interval between firstborn and secondborn. (MP)

Reported is the case of a girl whose younger brother was disabled by a cleft palate and who stopped wanting to go to school when she entered junior high school. (GW)

The relationships of 35 community-based mildly mentally retarded adults and their siblings were examined over an 18-month period, with relationships classified on dimensions of warmth, frequency of contact, and involvement. The most frequently observed relationship involved warm feelings, minimal contact, and minimal involvement between retarded…

Introduces the Social Relations Model as a new approach for understanding reciprocity during parent-child and sibling play. (PCB)