An experimental analysis of peer social initiations on the behavior of withdrawn preschool children: some training and generalization effects. 1977

P S Strain

In this study, positive social initiations by an age-peer was evaluated as an intervention for isolate preschool children in training and generalization sessions. During baseline, the confederate made few social approaches to the target subjects. The confederate greatly increased his rate of positive social initiations during the first intervention, decreased social approaches during a second baseline, and increased social approaches again in a second intervention phase. Increases in confederate initiations resulted in an immediate acceleration in the frequency of subjects' positive social behavior during training sessions. Additionally, for two of the three subjects, positive social behaviors were also observed to increase during generalization sessions. The results suggest that (a) peers may be trained successfully to set the occasion for positive social behaviors by withdrawn classmates, (b) increased social responding by withdrawn children in the presence of frequent peer social initiations may also generalize beyond the training setting, and (c) the magnitude of direct and generalization effects appears to be related to the entry-level repertoire of target children.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D009043 Motor Activity Body movements of a human or an animal as a behavioral phenomenon. Activities, Motor,Activity, Motor,Motor Activities
D010379 Peer Group Group composed of associates of same species, approximately the same age, and usually of similar rank or social status. Group, Peer,Groups, Peer,Peer Groups
D010988 Play and Playthings Spontaneous or voluntary recreational activities pursued for enjoyment and accessories or equipment used in the activities; includes games, toys, etc. Puppets,Toys,Play,Playthings,Plays,Plaything,Playthings and Play,Puppet,Toy
D002675 Child, Preschool A child between the ages of 2 and 5. Children, Preschool,Preschool Child,Preschool Children
D005795 Generalization, Stimulus The tendency to react to stimuli that are different from, but somewhat similar to, the stimulus used as a conditioned stimulus. Generalizations, Stimulus,Stimulus Generalization,Stimulus Generalizations
D005868 Gestures Movement of a part of the body for the purpose of communication. Gesture
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D001521 Behavior Therapy The application of modern theories of learning and conditioning in the treatment of behavior disorders. Behavior Change Techniques,Behavior Modification,Behavior Treatment,Conditioning Therapy,Therapy, Behavior,Therapy, Conditioning,Behavior Change Technique,Behavior Modifications,Behavior Therapies,Conditioning Therapies,Modification, Behavior,Technique, Behavior Change,Treatment, Behavior
D012919 Social Behavior Any behavior caused by or affecting another individual or group usually of the same species. Sociality,Behavior, Social,Behaviors, Social,Social Behaviors

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