Race and modeling influences on the interpersonal play patterns of boys.

Abstract

Studied the effects of race and modeling cues on the play patterns of dyads of young boys. 40 White and 38 Black 5th graders were observed during play on the basis of 5 indices of interaction. Black Ss talked significantly less together, faced each other less directly, and interacted at greater interpersonal distances than did White Ss. Racially mixed dyads were intermediate in social distance, talk, and body axis. Biracial dyads observed a televised episode of a Black male adolescent and a White male adolescent play together in a warm or cold fashion. Posttests revealed that Ss viewing the warm interaction were more cooperative, played at a closer distance, faced the other child more directly, gave more eye contact, and talked more frequently than did those who were exposed to the cold modeling videotape. (20 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved)