Psychic surrender, a malady that's becoming progressively stronger in our culture, can be defined as the act of turning complete control of your life over to someone you perceive as stronger and more capable than you, e.g., God, trendy therapies, or gurus. What is needed is more self-responsibility. (RM)

Examines the social, cognitive, and social-cognitive correlates of nonsocial play in 122 four-year-olds observed for 20 minutes during free play. Subjects were given a role-taking test and tests of social and impersonal problem-solving skills. Sociometric popularity and social competence, as rated by teachers, were also assessed. (Author/RH)

Compares Navajo women's positions at three periods: in traditional society before stock reduction (1868-1933); during and after stock reduction (1933 to early 1950s); and at the present day (1980s). (Author)

Factor analyzed the Social Interest Index-Revised (SII-R), which measures levels of social interest attained in each of four life task areas. Four factors (N=308) were defined, i.e., a self-significance factor, a love factor, a friendship factor, and a work factor. Results support the empirical validity of the scale. (Author/PAS)

Examined factors related to satisfactory postdivorce social adjustment of 206 randomly selected single parents. Found the strongest single predictor of adjustment was the parent's subjective feelings of well-being and absence of distress. Other significant factors included the family's current social status and relationships with significant…

Assessed the cross-sex similarity of behavioral disturbance dimensions as measured by the Bristol Social Adjustment Guides (BSAG) using a sample of 2,527 Ontario schoolchildren. Results confirmed the cross-sex equivalence in the factor structure and support the use of the BSAG's under- and overreaction scales as indicators of maladjustment. (JAC)

Research findings indicate that children who are unpopular with their peers play in less emotionally mature cognitive and social ways than do children who interact well socially. It is suggested that noncompetitive play in familiar environments may promote a behavior change in unpopular children. (JN)

Interviewed randomly selected custodial parents (N=206). Custodial parents also completed a social adjustment scale on the criterion measure of children's adjustment. Results showed the most significant factor related to children's social adjustment was a positive relationship to the custodial parent. (Author/RC)

Educable mentally retarded children who are mainstreamed are likely to have social problems due to personological concerns (maladaptive behavior, labeling) and environmental concerns (teacher attitudes and expectancies, peer attitudes). (CL)

Loneliness was the main factor underlying failure to adjust. Furthermore, widowhood and being alone had a considerable influence. The degree of disability and the age of the individual proved to have a smaller impact than was assumed to be the case. (Author)

Examined the relationship between interpersonal intimacy and loneliness, social skills, and social activity. Dispositional level of self-disclosure was found to be inversely related to loneliness. Results suggest that lonely individuals have difficulty appropriately revealing personal information in new relationships and nonstructured social…

Compared to a peer group of average abilities, gifted and talented junior high school students appeared more outgoing, participating, insightful, fast-learning, intellectually adaptable, conscientious, persistent, and moralistic, thus indicating significant between-group differences. (SB)

Coaching and modeling were equivalent procedures for teaching social skills to isolated children. The abbreviated combination of coaching and modeling did not add to the effects. Peer orientation proved to be only a relatively weak modulator of responsiveness to social skills training. (Author)