The Social Behavior of Popular and Average Boys in an Initial Group Encounter

Julie A. Hubbard

Duke University

The present investigation attempted to identify empirically the components of socially competent behavior in an unfamiliar playgroup situation by comparing the behavior of popular boys with that of average boys. Behaviors examined included play activity behaviors, prosocial behaviors, aggressive behaviors, and response to provocation behaviors. Additionally, the extent to which socially competent behavior is context-dependent was examined by studying the influence of the level of playgroup aggression on the behavior of the popular and average boys.

Several findings distinguished the behavior of popular boys from that of average boys. First, popular boys were less influenced than average boys by the level of playgroup aggression in the frequency of their rough and tumble play and bullying behavior. Second, popular boys engaged in more sharing behavior than did average boys. Third, popular boys tended to shift from rough and tumble play to social conversation, while average status boys shifted from rough and tumble play to solitary play. Fourth, popular boys were more likely than average boys to shift from solitary play to constructive play and from constructive play to rule-governed play.