Observed kindergartners and first graders playing in dyads. Children who were frequent pretenders had more predictable behavior pathways to and fewer exits from social pretend play (BSP) than children who were infrequent pretenders. Children's social interaction increased in complexity sooner after the onset of BSP than of nonpretend social…

The performance of 20 children with educable mental retardation (ages 8 to 12) and 20 verbal mental age-matched nonretarded controls was compared on identifying emotional facial expressions and producing the equivalent word adjectives. There were no significant differences between the two groups in general, despite the fact that children with…

Examined the emotional reactions of toddlers to two mishaps. Children's reactions varied along two dimensions: tension and frustration and concerned reparation. Mishaps elicited more negative emotions than did free play, and most toddlers attempted to correct the mishap. Findings indicate that children's styles of emotional response to mishaps may…

Discusses the concept of gatekeepers in the area of information and culture and presents a model for the information-seeking behavior of ethnolinguistic gatekeepers. Highlights include information needs and use models; information inequity in information and retrieval programs; affective and cognitive domains; and research implications for…

It is suggested that perceptions of the self, of others, and of the relationship between self and others are very powerful and that this influence is clearly reflected in culture. The independent view of the self, represented in Western culture, is contrasted with the interdependent view in many other cultures. (SLD)

A theory is presented that postulates that people in all cultures use four relational models to generate most kinds of social interaction, evaluation, and affect. Ethnographic and field studies (n=19) have supported cultural variations on communal sharing; authority ranking; equality matching; and market pricing. (SLD)

Argues that teachers seeking to identify what constitutes a crisis for children must consider the child's response to and feelings about the experience, not just the event itself. Reviews common physical, psychological, and social symptoms of crisis. Discusses ways to help children in crisis while maintaining appropriate boundaries. (PAA)

Two kinds of parental beliefs, endorsed rearing philosophy (authoritative-authoritarian dimension) and affective attitude toward child (positive-negative affect dimension), were examined in 20 normal and 36 depressed mothers as long-term predictors of child rearing behaviors and interaction patterns with their children. (BC)

The classrooms of two teachers, two aides, and six children (ages four to eight) with autism were reorganized in their play materials and equipment, room arrangements, and scheduling of instruction and play periods. Adult smiling and affectionate words increased in the free play area, and children's use of play materials and compliance with adult…

Reports an ethnographic research project involving fourth graders and the use of computers. Examines the social context of computer use; the way students relate to computers; and what students learn by interacting with computers. Finds that students can experience powerful emotional reactions to events resulting from their interactions with…

Infants who changed in levels of emotionality between three and nine months were compared with infants who remained stable. Maternal personality, marital factors, and mother-infant interaction accounted for the change in highly emotional infants. Father factors accounted for changes by infants who were initially low in negativity. (BC)

Describes a study that surveyed undergraduates who were considered at high risk for pathological Internet use. Discusses questions that assessed evidence that Internet use was causing academic, work, or interpersonal problems, distress, tolerance symptoms, and mood-alterations; addresses gender issues; and reports results from the UCLA Loneliness…

Examines relationships between environmental contexts, sibling structure, immediate family settings, and students' affective characteristics. Finds that immediate family settings have a stronger effect on student affect than family environmental contexts and that there are gender-related differences in the nature of the relationships between…

The purposes of this study were to develop a strategy to foster environmental sensitivity and to verify its effects. The new strategy was based on principles of humanistic education and key points were focused on feeling environments through the body and confronting the present by examining here-and-now situations. Results showed this strategy to…

Emphasizes that communicating in a foreign language requires understanding the linguistic strategies of its speakers as expressions of their frame of participation and underlying preferred politeness strategies in order to respond appropriately. The article presents results from sociolinguistic research studying a group of Spanish speakers…