Many research findings about animal play apply to children's play, revealing structural and functional similarities with mammals in general and primates in particular. After an introduction to life-history theory, and before turning to humans, the author reviews research about the two mammals in which play has been studied the most extensively:…

Poverty remains an urgent crisis worldwide. In the United States, 28.6 million children live in low-income families and 12.7 million children live in poor families. In nations belonging to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), 47 million children live below national poverty lines. These figures pertain to…

Contends that television's portrayal of character aggression, specifically the aggressor's motives and the consequences to him, effectively modifies children's behavior. Communication Research-International Quarterly, Sage Publications, Inc., 275 S. Beverly Dr., Beverly Hills, California 90212. (MH)

This review brings together some general findings on empathy that have emerged during the last decade of research with children. From a recent review of the research on social cognitive development (Schantz, in press), this paper responds to three specific questions: (1) What is empathy? (2) Under what conditions is empathy likely to occur? and…

Observes that the norm for the onset of embarrassment and blushing is five years, although some children may show these signs of a social self one or two years earlier. (RL)

The study compared the level of development observed in the imaginative play of young children with the level of development revealed in conservation an classification tasks. The sample included 40 children, with one 5/6-year old group of 20 children (10 boys, 10 girls), and two six/seven-year old groups of 20 children (14 boys, 6 girls). The…

It was hypothesized that children, like adults, cognize social groups by applying social schemata. Their facility with social schemata was predicted to be a function of their level of cognitive development. When children were asked to complete partial social structures, formal and concrete operational, but not preoperational children, readily…

Until the 1960's, the prevailing view within the scientific community was that television was a relatively unimportant influence, but studies have shown that television does have an important effect on the behavior of its viewers, particularly aggressive behavior. Consequently, recent research has focused on the role of television in the…

Discusses a study designed to determine whether children differing in age and construct system complexity differ as well in their ability to spontaneously perceive differences in psychological states of listeners and use the perceptions to determine communicative choices. (MH)

A one-year followup study of 482 children (ages 10 and 11) in their final year of primary school was conducted to determine the extent to which personality, behavioral, and educational variables at the primary school level related to their social, emotional and educational adjustment at the secondary school level. (KC)

Examines the historical and conceptual foundations of friendship research. Areas addressed include functions of friendship, study of peer relations and peer systems, associated methodological and measurement challenges, and the study of friendship today. The discussion is framed around the "Harry Potter" (by J. K. Rowling) phenomena. (SD)

To assess the relation between role perception and persuasion tactics, 58 first and third graders were asked to describe: (a) their mother, teacher and friend; (b) how they would persuade each of these individuals in different situations; and (c) how these others would persuade them. Results suggest that children are able to differentiate among…

This book examines the developmental functions of social pretend play (SPP), asserting that SPP is salient in the formation of both social interaction skills and friendships from the toddler period into middle childhood. Part 1 discusses the mastery of the communication of meaning in SPP and presents three studies on the relationship between…

The value and function of play behavior in young children, and the process and conditions by which play contributes to learning, cognition and problem solving, are explored in this literature review. The first section examines early theories of play, the psychoanalytic theory of play, and the developmental stages of play. Common elements of play…

This document consists of a series of papers which describe components of a systematic research and development program at the Center at Oregon for Research in the Behavioral Education of the Handicapped (CORBEH). The presentations focus upon: (1) the development and use of a social interaction recording system supplying the major dependent…