The Relations among Theory of Mind,Behavioral Inhibition,and Peer Interactions in Early Childhood

The current study examined relations among child temperament, peer interaction, and theory of mind (ToM) development. We hypothesized that: (1) children classified as behaviorally inhibited at 24 months would show less ToM understanding at 36 months in comparison to nonbehaviorally inhibited children; (2) children who displayed negative peer interaction behaviors in a peer dyadic interaction at 24 months would exhibit less ToM understanding at 36 months; and (3) behavioral inhibition (BI) and the degree of negative behaviors during a peer interaction would jointly influence ToM development, such that children with both heightened BI and negative peer interaction behaviors would exhibit worse ToM performance than behaviorally inhibited children who did not display negative social behaviors. Both BI and negative peer interaction behaviors were associated with passing fewer ToM tasks. The data revealed that children high in both BI and negative peer interaction behaviors passed fewer ToM tasks at 36 months of age than those high in BI and low in negative peer interactions or those low in BI.     

Fatness as a disability: questions of personal and group identity

Both fat people and disabled people share common barriers to full societal participation and acceptance. While there has been a substantial amount of literature relating to these two groups as separate entities, there is a lack of contemporary research that investigates the relationship between fat and disability identity formation. The purpose of this qualitative study was to engage in a dialogue with fat individuals and explore the construction of their identities – whether or not they identified with having a disability and, if so, whether or not they viewed their fatness as a disability. Interviews with a sample size of seven participants who self‐identified as ‘fat’ revealed an unwillingness to adopt a disability identity based on their fatness.     

Rapid Estimation of Standard Errors of Means for Small Samples

The general impression that precision of an estimator increases with increasing sample size is scrutinized. It is demonstrated that, if the estimator under consideration is an average function, the statement does not hold good when the population elements are drawn with varying probabilities of selection at each draw. An example is presented to illustrate the point.     

Geriatric enrichment: guaranteeing a place for aging in the curriculum

Two years ago, the School of Social Work embarked upon a new and challenging initiative to create sustainable structural changes that enrich gerontological learning experiences for all our BSW and MSW students, faculty, fieldwork instructors and community practitioners. We envisioned that participation in this initiative would enable us to expand and embed geriatric content in the undergraduate and graduate curriculum, to increase our geriatric fieldwork placement opportunities, to evaluate and enhance our teaching and learning resources on aging, and to develop two new aging specific courses. Having reached our third year of operation, we find ourselves reflecting on what have been our successes, what could we have done differently, and where do we go in the future. This article will describe our process of developing a model of curriculum change that will guarantee a place for aging in both our undergraduate and graduate curricula.     

Group counseling for children adopted at older ages

Children adopted at older ages have special emotional needs and problems that can complicate their development. Counseling groups specifically designed for this population provide these children with opportunities to share with others who have had similar experiences.     

Hand-drumming to build community: the story of the Whittier Drum Project

Over the years, the author participated in drum circles and classes in Denver, Fort Collins, and Boulder, Colorado. He noticed that drumming made him feel grounded and at peace. Drumming is very accessible, not like playing the piano or violin. Simple rhythms can be taught to people with no drumming experience very quickly and an ensemble rhythm created with a group in one sitting. Drumming turned out to be a highly effective way to engage with young people not only to address their individual spirits but to join with others to create a community.     

ASYMMETRY OF INFLUENCE IN ALCOHOLICS' MARITAL COMMUNICATION: ALCOHOL'S EFFECTS ON INTERACTION DOMINANCE*

Eight couples participated in a study of dominance in alcoholics' marriages. Data for this investigation were derived from pretreatment assessment materials, a study on alcohol's effects on marital communication, and a study of insiders' and outsiders' perceptions of marital interaction. Little support was found for the contention that alcoholics are submissive or less influential when compared to their spouses. While alcoholics perceive themselves as submissive, on behavioral measures they are not. Alcohol may function to reduce the discrepancy between alcoholics' perceptions of their influencing ability and their actual performance. This would support current models of alcoholism and marriage which attribute adaptive consequences to drinking.