POPULAR AND REJECTED PRESCHOOLERS ATTITUDE TO PEERS

Different aspects of communication competence (cognitive, behavioral a nd emotional) were compared in two samples of 5-6-year-old children - popular and rejected ones; The results show that there are no differen ces in social status, general intelligence and communicative activity between the samples. The main differences were found in emotional char acteristics. Popular children as compared to rejected ones demonstrate empathy, attention to peer's actions, and helping behavior. Rejected children demonstrate mainly aggressive or indifferent attitude towards peers.