The qualities of sibling relationships and friendships of socially accepted and rejected children were compared in a study involving 392 male and 384 female second and third graders. The students completed a series of assessments and their teachers filled out rating scales. Results indicated that sibling status was associated with friendship…

The effectiveness of teachers in identifying children who experience peer relationship difficulties was examined by comparing populations selected by teacher ratings and sociometric nomination procedures. Results revealed teachers were successful in identifying those who experienced the most severe peer rejection and were most likely to select…

Based on the view that positive peer relationships help children function successfully at school, this study examined how teachers can help rejected, aggressive, or controversial children build social skills in a small group setting. Participating were three kindergarten students at a rural Alaskan elementary school, selected because they…

The author states that far too little has been done about teaching handicapped adolescents the specifics of coping with stressful situations. Training should begin in childhood and be designed to be effective in a variety of settings and with many different types of people. (Author/KC)

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 examined children's popularity with peers and the emotional cues that were observed during parent-child interactions. Twenty-eight 4- and 5-year-olds were observed in their preschool classroom and categorized as popular or rejected. The children then participated in a two-person game with each of their parents. The play was videotaped,…

The curriculum is an adaptation of a secondary social studies curriculum designed to help nonhandicapped students understand alienation. In Unit I, students explore their personal experiences of alienation either as victims or perpetrators. In lessons 1 and 2 they role play an alienating situation in the classroom and analyze such past experiences…

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)

This study examined fourth- and fifth-grade girls' cognitions of their relationally aggressive peers as a function of their own relationally aggressive and sociometric status. Findings indicated that relationally aggressive girls tended to display a relatively cautious and wary social cognitive style in relationally provocative social situations.…

Examined academic and behavioral problems as a function of two dimensions by which rejection may vary over time: chronicity and temporal proximity. Suggests that all levels of rejection were associated with greater absenteeism from school, and more chronic and proximal experiences of rejection were associated with elevated externalizing behavior…

Followed two large cohorts of African-American third graders from low-income families into early adolescence. Assessed adjustment at end of first year of middle school by teacher and parent ratings and by adolescent self-reports. Found that both childhood aggression and peer rejection appeared to be significant predictors of adolescent disorder,…

Defined peer-rated, narrow-band dimensions of undercontrolled behavior of 362 third through sixth grade boys that was associated with peer rejection. Results revealed three narrow-band dimensions in the peer perceptions of grade school boys: (1) aggression; (2) hyperactivity; and (3) inattention-immaturity. (SH)

Drawing from social identity theory (Tajfel & Turner, 1979), an experiment was carried out to determine the extent to which children's attitudes towards bullying could be moderated by in-group norms and perceived threat to group distinctiveness. The study investigated the responses of 120 male primary school students aged 10-13 years from five…

In the classroom, young people in their role of pupils are supposed to focus on and respond to the teaching plan. At breaks, the norms and rules may differ and are more similar to life outside the school. Peer rejection is part of this life. According to Swedish school legislation, schools shall counteract all forms of insulting treatment. Still,…

This analysis of third and fourth graders suggests that enemy relationships are common, often of short duration, and partially reflective of negative behavior patterns between boys and girls in elementary school. (Contains 4 tables.)