Journal Articles
Abstract:
Examined the role of interpersonal expectations in rejected children's social difficulties by inducing a positive expectancy prior to their joining unfamiliar peers and assessing whether this influenced their group entry behavior and the opinions that new peers formed of them. Rejected boys receiving the expectancy induction were preferred by new peers over control, rejected boys, but no behavioral effects were found. Rejected girls who received the induction were again better liked than controls and behaved more competently. These results indicate that rejected children can make better impressions on peers when they expect interpersonal success and suggest that rejected children's interpersonal expectations should be considered in interventions designed to improve their peer relationships.