Biomedical subjects

L Zarbatany

Publications and source records attributed to L Zarbatany.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1996

Age differences in support processes in conversations between friends.

The purpose of this study was to examine age differences in the use and effectiveness of social support processes emitted during conversations about real life negative events between preadolescent, adolescent, and adult friends. Age differences were found for 3 forms of support. Older supporters made more excuses and engaged in less distraction than preadolescent supporters, and adult supporters validated more excuses than younger supporters. Talking to friends alleviated negative affect in subjects of all ages, however factors predicting reductions in negative affect differed across age. Preadolescents felt better when friends distracted them from their problems, and adults felt better when friends helped them evade responsibility for their problems. Specific support processes did not predict affect changes for adolescents, but adolescent girls felt better after the conversation than adolescent boys. Results are explained in terms of age differences in self-validation and intimacy needs, experience co-constructing reality and providing social support, and refinement of social skills.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1996

Effects of friendship and gender on peer group entry.

Effects of hosts' conflicting motives (to win a game vs. to be a good friend) on peer group entry processes and outcomes were examined. Subjects were 68 triads (35 female) of 10-12-year-old predominantly White children. Two host friends played a game for a large prize that was forfeited for a smaller prize if the guest (a friend or nonfriend of both hosts) was included. Hosts admitted guest friends more often than nonfriends (44% vs. 26%), suggesting that friendship norms prescribe self-sacrifice. Hosts behaved similarly with guest friends and nonfriends, but guest friends were more active than nonfriends, reflecting freedom derived from friendship security. Female hosts admitted guests more often than male hosts (51% vs. 21%), consistent with communal and agentic gender role prescriptions for girls and boys, respectively. Results suggest that hosts' friendship obligations and psychological orientation affect their response to a newcomer in a group entry situation.

Child↗

PubMed1990

The psychological functions of preadolescent peer activities.

The psychological functions of preadolescent peer activities were assessed by examining activity-related prescriptions and prescriptions for peer behavior. 91 fifth- and sixth-grade children (48 girls) kept week-long diaries of important peer activities and liked and disliked behaviors performed by peers in the activities. 81 other fifth- and sixth-grade children (40 girls) rated the importance and prevalence of each activity and indicated which of several positive and negative behaviors they would most like or dislike to happen in 10 of the activities. Results indicate that collectively, the activities sampled serve 3 main functions based on their prescriptive and prescriptive behavioral profiles: (a) they provide a context for sociability, enhancement of relationships, and a sense of belonging; (b) they promote concern for achievements and integrity of the self; and (c) they provide opportunities for instruction and learning. Not all activities serve all functions, however, and children may require exposure to a variety of activities to accrue a full range of psychological experiences. The findings also illustrate the potential importance of activity-related information for discerning the meaning and evaluating the effectiveness of social behavior. The advantages of the methodology are discussed.

Child↗

PubMed1988

Interaction and performance within cooperative groups: effects on nonhandicapped students' attitudes toward their mildly mentally retarded peers.

Preferences of 40 nonretarded 7- to 12-year-old children for their mildly mentally retarded schoolmates were assessed before and after participating in a cooperative game with a retarded child. Game conditions varied interaction opportunities between dyad members (high or low) and performance of the retarded child (good or poor). Children's preferences for their retarded partners increased significantly from pre- to postgame, despite performance or interaction levels, suggesting that these factors do not mediate the relation between cooperation and interpersonal attraction. High interaction, however, produced less negative behavioral ratings of and higher rates of positive behavior toward retarded children across time.

Achievement↗

PubMed1985

Why does children's generosity increase with age: susceptibility to experimenter influence or altruism?

This study evaluated whether age differences in children's generosity are due to increasing altruistic motivation or increasing susceptibility to experimenter influence strategies. 282 first, third, and fifth graders voted on how to spend a gift of money under 1 of 5 instructional sets--3 levels of experimenter influence, peer influence, or no influence, or no influence. Voting choices (in increasing order of generosity according to experimenter-defined scoring weights) were splitting up the money equally among class members, buying something for their class, buying something for their school, or giving the money to poor children. Voting choices also were scored according to empirically derived weights based on rankings provided by an independent sample of 50 first, third, and fifth graders. Both scoring systems indicated that fifth graders were more generous than younger children, but only under high levels of experimenter demand, and peer influence did not increase children's generosity. Furthermore, first graders appeared more generous when the child-derived rather than the experimenter-derived scoring system was used. Thus generalizations regarding age differences in generosity observed in laboratory experiments may require qualification, specifying the degree and type of experimenter influence involved.

Altruism↗