In developing countries, older women are seldom part of the development agenda in spite of the fact that they are major supporters of emerging social orders and contributors to the stability of relationships. The well-being of older women must be recognized as a political question. (JOW)

Assessed effects of maternal employment on socioemotional development of young children. After controlling for differences at time of child's birth, found that children whose mothers worked full-time beginning in child's first or second year scored more poorly on composite measure of adjustment than did children of mothers who were not employed…

Infants participated in a nonsocial contingency task immediately after a social interaction with their mothers. The amount of time mothers and infants spent in a state of vocal turn-taking predicted individual differences in infants' subsequent performance on the contingency task. (PCB)

The number of children who molest other children in school settings is increasing. To respond appropriately, school psychologists need to have an understanding about sexually aggressive behavior in children. Reviews the relevant literature and presents a continuum of sexual behavior to assist in identification of children who molest. Delineates…

Eight low-functioning and non-verbal children with autism were presented with a modified version of the "still face" paradigm in an investigation of their expectancies concerning human social behavior. Results indicated the children were unable to form a generalized expectancy for social contingency in human beings with whom they have not yet had…

Examines the culture and history of the Internet that have contributed to the recent emergence of a subset of romantic interpersonal relationships known as computer mediated relationships. Considers the differences between the characteristics of face-to-face relationships and online relationships. Discusses implications of findings on clinical…

Argues that developmental significance of friendships cannot be examined without distinguishing between the concepts of having friends, the identity of the child's friends, and friendship quality. Concludes that the identity of the child's friends and friendship quality may be more closely tied to developmental outcomes than merely whether the…

Discusses a theory of interpretive reproduction--the importance of children's reproduction of and participation in their own peer cultures for their evolving membership in society. Describes themes of communal sharing and control in children's peer cultures, presenting examples of peer routines and activities. Considers the importance of…

Examined the relationship between vagal regulation and infant social behavior. Assessed 1-year-olds' social responses toward an unfamiliar adult, then measured their regulation of cardiac vagal tone during a later test of mental development. Results suggest that infants capable of regulating vagal tone have a greater capacity for social…

Identifies methodological challenges for understanding childhood aggression and gender. Considers definitions, contexts, and subtypes, as well as sampling and measures before moving on to research comparing the level of aggression shown by boys and girls. Notes that physical and social aggression may not have the same developmental origins;…

Considers how forgiveness is learned and what developmental features it has in common with other prosocial activities. Maintains that viewing forgiveness within a moral developmental framework does not consider its complex nature nor address related issues such as damage severity, restoring relationships, empathy, or altruism. Explores these areas…

Research on solitary play most often views solitary in contrast to social play. Children who play alone more than is typical fall into four groups: shy and non-shy soloists, isolated, and depressed children. Only the latter two groups present clear concerns during the preschool years. Solo play should be viewed as an important developmental…

The functional maturity of the newborn infant's brain, the resemblances between neonatal imitation and imitation in adults and the possibly lateralized neonatal imitation suggest that the mirror neuron system may contribute to neonatal imitation. Newborn infants not only imitate but also initiate previously imitated gestures, and are able to…

The present study examined multiple measures of parenting (i.e., nurturance reported by parents themselves, child-centered behavior rated by trained observers, and child-reported parenting and family atmosphere) and their association with parents' personality trait of extraversion (E). The study was part of the Jyvaskyla Longitudinal Study of…

Executive function is understood as an umbrella term encompassing a number of interrelated sub-skills necessary for purposeful, goal-directed activity. Research suggests a vital role for executive function in children's social-emotional development. However, executive function is rarely considered in models of intervention programs that attempt to…