Despite known risks associated with aberrant social skill development, there has been a relative dearth of literature on typical developmental changes in social skills over time. In this study, we examine systematic changes in social skills from kindergarten (typical age of 5-6 years) to third grade (typical age of 8-9 years), and focus on…

Children with Asperger Syndrome (AS) who attend mainstream settings face social skills deficits that have not been adequately explored. This study aims to examine social skills through self-reports of children with AS (N = 21) and a matched group of typically developing peers, as well as reports from their mothers, fathers, and teachers. Results…

The author suggests that interviewing is a skill that can be learned, and describes a program designed especially for law students that is based on the fundamentals of assertiveness training. (Author/HMV)

Describes a research project which taught social skills to children who did not have friends in school. (RM)

Tests effects of two interventions upon question-asking behavior. Both treatments decreased latency of asking the first question, but only specific instructions affected total number of bids for clarification. Women predisposed to be high in assertiveness were facilitated by any intervention. Shorter latencies were associated with more knowledge.…

Validates the "College Self-Expression Scale." Shows that females are significantly more assertive, and that in one of the criterion situations each sex was significantly more assertive toward members of the same sex than members of the opposite sex. (RL)

Previous research has suggested that behavioral differences between shy and not shy persons may be explained by differences in inhibition rather than differences in interpersonal skills. To investigate the behavior of high and low social anxiety subjects in both ambiguous social situations and in explicitly structured ones, three studies using…

This article discussess assertiveness in the Black-White encounter. The author delineates the assertive options available to Blacks, distortions in interpretation of assertive messages, and strategies for more effective and efficient assertions. (Author)

An assertiveness training curriculum that was an expansion of two previous programs with young adolescents was presented to 22 fifth graders. Results did not show that training facilitated assertiveness on the performance components. Suggestions are offered for designing programs aimed at developing adolescents' assertive behavior in ways that…

Describes and critiques criteria used to evaluate socially competent behavior of women. Discusses the relationship between the definition of competence used and the assessment methods relied on. Notes the advantages of focusing on specific goals and provides a checklist that consumers can use to review the content of training programs. (Author/ABB)

The premise that "sports builds character" is scrutinized through a discussion of several contact sports--boxing, hockey, and football. The fine line between assertiveness and aggression is explored, and the interrelationship between society and sports is investigated. (JN)

This article discusses teaching social skills and assertiveness to students with disabilities. The National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE) content standards for physical education emphasize teaching responsible personal and social behaviors to students of all abilities, to help them develop an understanding of and respect for…

New measures of sex role style assess the respondent's self-attribution of sex-typed interpersonal characteristics. In light of claims that androgynous roles are related to behavioral flexibility, the current study investigated the relationship between sex role orientations and performance in interpersonal situations. Males and females in each of…

Describes a group assertiveness training program developed for use with shy children. The first phase utilized reinforcement procedures, relaxation, guided fantasy, behavior contracts, and feedback mechanisms. The second phase eliminated features no longer needed as children progressed. The evaluation demonstrated this program can be effective in…

Comparison of 20 socially accepted and 20 socially rejected intermediate grade students with mental retardation in regular class settings found accepted children displayed a higher level of social behavior and a lower level of sensitive-isolated behavior. Accepted children chose friendly-submissive (rather than friendly-assertive) goals and a low…