Eight high- and low-status nonhandicapped students ages 7-10 (N=8) were taught to direct social initiations to eight severely handicapped students during recess. Interactions of the high-status students resulted in higher levels of initiations by nontrained peers toward the handicapped students than did interactions of low-status students.…

Examined age-related changes in the organization underlying children's ratings of peer social deviance. Peer ratings of aggression, withdrawal, and likeability using the Pupil Evaluation Inventory (PEI) were collected from first, fourth, and seventh graders. For all ages aggression and likeability items were found to comprise cohesive categories…

Followed 150 children over four years who were classified according to cluster analysis of teacher ratings into four types of social withdrawal: unsociable, passive-anxious, active-isolate, and sad-depressed. Found that unsociable children had elevated sociometric neglect rates, active-isolates had higher levels of rejection, and sad-depressed had…

This study of stigmatizing attitudes toward adults who suffered incestuous abuse as children involved 195 college students. Women indicated differences in stigma when anticipating various types of relationships with male survivors, whereas men predicted comfort with female survivors based on the length of the relationship. (Author/DB)

Peer nomination and peer rating procedures are reviewed with regard to their relevance to assessing children's social acceptance and social status in school settings. Strengths, limitations, and potential applications of peer nomination and peer rating sociometric methods are discussed. A new method of capitalizing on the relative strengths of…

Are depressive symptoms in middle childhood associated with more or less realistic social self-perceptions? At the beginning and end of the school year, children in grades 3 through 5 (n = 667) rated how much they liked their classmates, predicted the acceptance ratings they would receive from each of their classmates, and completed self-report…

Research in the areas of friendship selection, interracial acceptance, interracial contact, and interracial dating was reviewed to determine the nature of intergroup relations for White, Hispanic, and Black adolescents. The findings indicate that Black, White and Hispanic adolescents prefer same-race friends. When cross-race friendships occur in…

Because people are separate individuals, interpersonal conflict is inevitable. Social psychologists have studied this area by examining styles of conflict resolution such as negotiation/bargaining. Counseling psychologists have attempted to address these concerns through assertiveness and aspects of parenting training. However, no specific model…

Social psychologists have studied interpersonal conflict by examining styles of conflict resolution such as negotiation/bargaining. Counseling psychologists have attempted to address these concerns through assertiveness and aspects of parenting training. In a previous study, a three-component confrontation model--specified behavior, emotional…

This paper presents a method of identifying classroom social structures that can be used by teachers involved with writing behavioral objectives and Individualized Education Plans (IEP). By measuring the classroom environment, one has a greater probability of achieving the desired learning environment. A sociometric test enables the teacher to…

Presented is a guide for teaching elementary school children to understand classmates and others with special needs which was developed as a result of a project involving 16 classroom teachers and a nurse consultant in developing an exemplary program. Listed are concerns frequently voiced by teachers such as a child asking embarassing questions.…

Describes a study exploring the efficacy of disclosure as a stigma management strategy in normal-stigmatized interactions. Path analysis of the data indicates a process leading from uncertainty, tension, and attraction to acceptance/rejection, as expected. Findings are discussed in terms of stigma attributions and relational development. (JMF)

Two parallel studies evaluated the manner in which variations in sociometric formulations highlight differing effects of academic status on social acceptance in the classroom. The contingency between sociometric formulation and outcome was consistent with level of aspiration and social exchange theories. (Author/LMO)

Reviews research on friendships of delinquents and nondelinquents. Contrasting theories and research have pointed to both the distinctiveness of delinquent friendships and the commonality with normal friendships. Greater conflict, poorer attachment quality, lesser ability to repair relationships, cognitive distortions, and poorer social-cognitive…

The present study was designed to examine early adolescents' stereotypical descriptions of two types of youth who are seen as popular by their peers. Participants were 13- to 14-year-old early adolescents (N = 287). The results indicated that early adolescents distinguished two types of popular peers: a "populistic" (popular but not…