ADOLESCENTS AND ADULTS AT THE MALL - DYADIC INTERACTIONS

The purpose of this descriptive study is to examine differences in int erpersonal engagements between teen-teen dyads and teen-adult dyads in a mall setting. It was expected that behavioral patterns between teen -teen and teen-adult dyads would differ as a function of age, gender, and racial composition. Participants included 865 teen-teen dyads and 190 teen-adult dyads. Observations were conducted in a large mall over four weeks. Observers recorded behavioral activity, physical proximit y/position, emotional expression, conversation, and evidence of shoppi ng. Teen-teen dyads differed from teen-adult dyads on two variables, c onversation and shopping evidence. Within teen-teen dyad comparisons y ielded several gender and racial differences, but only one age differe nce. Implications of these findings are discussed.