Based on twenty-five years of research on friendship, Dr. Kenneth H. Rubin reveals the importance of children''s social development to their emotional and intellectual growth—and future success. In The Friendship Factor he uses vivid case studies to differentiate normal development from potential problems and real distress, exploring how to:

• Distinguish between a solitary child and a lonely child

• Encourage the development of "popularity-as-likability," not "dominance"

• Help an easily angered child be less aggressive

• Increase a child''s social ability with specific skills and strategies