This extensive article covers three aspects of the premarital dyad: courtship development, dating behavior and satisfactions, and mate selection. It appears that the interplay of needs and roles seems to be a major part of discussion relevant to mate selection. (Author/CJ)

After an analysis of the pros and cons of the fraternity system, the author states that fraternities will remain in existence on college campuses due to the need of certain students to seek "social shelter". (AP)

Analyzed national survey data to discern differences in the effects of widowhood on the well-being of older men and women. Data supported an overall decline in well-being of widowed persons, but a direct effect of widowhood was substantial only for the negative dimension of the well-being of women. (Author/RC)

The American pattern of isolated nuclear families makes the early stages of widowhood very difficult. Widows and widowers need to learn to use resources for social interaction and social relations that can help them adapt to their changed lifestyles. (SK)

Integrates the traditional activity theory explanation of adjustment to aging with the aged subculture theory advanced by Rose. A path model to data from two subsamples of older adults. Self-conception is shown to be an important intervening variable between social activity and life satisfaction. (Author)

Anthropologists have often treated certain factors of community organization as given, rather than as potentially important variables to be investigated. Results of two community studies, however, suggest that community structure may be as important a variable to be investigated as either ethnicity or occupational status. (Author/GC)

A study of college students' dating behavior indicated that men expect more sexual intimacy sooner in a fewer number of dates than women. Most students are concerned about finding dating partners in a large university and feel positive about limited parental involvement. (Author/JAC)

Asserts that dichotomous cultural templates such as independence and interdependence do not accurately reflect the complexity of social life and often result in stereotypic characterizations of social orientations of individuals and cultures. Discusses viewpoints that promote use of dichotomous labels, espouse dualities for some cultural aspects,…

Various family responses to the courtesy stigma concept (a stigma acquired as a result of being related to a person with a stigma) are examined with regard to mental retardation in particular and disability in general. Also examined is how the social attribution of stigma serves to create distinctions, moral and otherwise, in society. (Author/DB)

Following a brief examination of postmodernism as an emerging framework of social life, this paper examines linkages among postmodern theory, bureaucracy, professional practice, and official documents. These elements are presented as interconnected, with each making demands and responding to one another. Such interactions constitute the framework…

Discusses key issues of late modern society that help make a case for critical awareness of discourse: the relationship between discourse, knowledge, and social change in the information or knowledge-based society; the "textually-mediated" nature of contemporary social life; the relationship between discourse and social difference; the…

Describes the basic tenets of social and emotional learning; discusses the emotional and social challenges that middle school children face; and provides suggestions for parents and teachers to help promote smooth sailing through these rocky middle school years. (SR)

Describes an exercise used successfully with a 5th- and 6th-grade classroom that helps students name their struggles and find common ground and even compassion. (SR)

Presents a call to action to all adults who impact the lives of students to make the time to pay attention to students, encourage their strengths, promote their learning, and model considerate and pro-social behavior--to notice them and talk to them. (SR)

Explains the interest of sociologists in feature-length film analysis. Discusses the problems with using films in sociology courses. Describes two analytic devices to help students interpret films. Presents a teaching strategy that groups films to convey certain sociological theories. Appends a schedule of films and readings. (CMK)