Introduction to the special section on the study of social withdrawal during childhood and adolescence: In honor of Dr. Kenneth H. Rubin

This special section is in honor of Dr. Kenneth H. Rubin and his unparalleled intellectual contribution to the study of the development and implications of social withdrawal. It also recognizes his almost 50 years of enthusiastic and devoted mentorship and international collaboration, which has stimulated numerous scholars around the world to investigate social withdrawal-related topics. The six contributions in this special section are written by scholars from diverse perspectives and backgrounds and include longitudinal datasets from four different countries. This introduction highlights the empirical contributions of these studies, characterized into three broad categories that have been central to Ken’s enormously influential work on social withdrawal: (1) peers as contributors to, and outcomes of, social withdrawal; (2) the consideration of the diverse contexts in which social withdrawal can occur; and (3) social withdrawal as a modifiable risk factor. Together, these studies extend knowledge about social withdrawal and its concomitants, set the stage for future research and intervention efforts, and honor the legacy of Dr. Kenneth H. Rubin.