Having kindergarten children use familiar play objects can serve the needs of the children and the goals of the teacher. Findings showed that, in addition to promoting interaction among children, play materials in kindergarten classrooms also embody institutional messages and facilitate socialization. (AM)

The idea of stress can be used to explicate some major topics taught in the introductory college- level sociology course. Strengths and weaknesses of the approach are discussed. A brief annotated bibliography is also provided to aid instructors who want to experiment with the technique. (Author/RM)

Investigated the effects of social learning and symbolic interaction on adolescent self-esteem. Adolescents (N=368) and their parents completed measures of self-esteem, parental behavior and parental power. Results suggested adolescent self-esteem is more a function of social interaction and the reflected appraisals of others than a modeling of…

Examines how the current disarray in American schools and in other social institutions affects students, the schools, and society in general. Offers suggestions for aligning the schools and other institutions on a path aimed at socializing youth. (FL)

Results of two studies with 60 children aged three, five, and seven, and 40 children aged four through 6.8, indicated that use and understanding of politeness at age three years seemed related to emerging ability to understand the perspective of another, and at later ages, to knowledge of social roles. (Author/MC)

The family operates as an economic socialization agent through the provision of (1) economic information networks, (2) grants and exchanges of resources, (3) economic role models, and (4) an environment for the development of individual human resource attributes. (SK)

The assumptions underlying the mass survey and student-based analyses supporting the widespread generalization that higher levels of education have positive impact on political behaviors and attitudes are challenged. Factors predating college attendance may be important in explaining political differences among populations of college-educated and…

Refutes O'Connor's argument for replacing humanities education with an emphasis on science and mathematics (see "Two Concepts of Education," p. 137, this issue). Concludes that the humanities deserve as serious a place in popular education as the sciences; both emphases form society and its purposes. (Author/KC)

Studied directives which mothers and fathers addressed to their preschool children. Fathers produced more directives than mothers and tended to phrase them as imperatives. No differences were found in parental directives to girls and boys. Thus, children appear to learn to request action in sex-associated ways through parental modeling. (GC)

The formal curriculum has a counterpart "hidden curriculum" of values and behavior, which is taught implicitly by the social systems of the school. Recent ecological studies have revealed the operations of school social systems in sufficient detail to suggest implications for the socialization of students and academic learning.…

Assertive discipline is an inappropriate classroom management method. To determine the necessary nature and amount of classroom control, analysis of the aims of education and of the growing body of child development and social psychology theories and research is necessary. (CJ)

Delinquent (N=50) and nondelinquent (N=50) members of peer groups were rated by group workers in relation to their rule-violating behavior in group activities. Found delinquents violated rules more often, reacted more aggressively to rule violations of others, and denied their responsibility for rule violations more often. (Author)

Redefines the role of family therapy in terms of the reemergence of the medical model in psychiatry. In this biopsychosocial model the goal of family therapy is defined as the achievement of socialization. Describes the goals of psychotherapy, sociotherapy, and biotherapy and suggests they are combined in family therapy. (Author/JAC)