Taking the role of retarded children: effects of familiarity and similarity.

As a first step in improving social relations between nonhandicapped and retarded children, this study was designed to investigate children's ability to take a retarded child's role and the effects of two variables on this ability: (a) familiarity with the characteristics of retarded children and (b) similarity of experiences to those of retarded youngsters. Findings were interpreted as indicating that children's ability to take the perspective of retarded children may be a productive area for further research.