Social Skills Training

      Social skills training is a direct approach to improving a student's interpersonal relationships. Critical elements in this approach to problem behavior management are definition of the problem or target behavior for improvement, assessment of the extent to which the problem or behavior occurs, and development and implementation of systematic intervention plans.
      Goals associated with general affective growth, such as the enhancement of self-concept or the development of a personal set of values, are not a primary focus in social skills training, Instead, friendship skills, such as greeting, asking for and returning information, inviting participation in activities, and leave taking are taught in some social skills training programs (Gottman, Gonso, & Rasmussen, 1975). Others target social maintenance skills, such as given positive attention, helping, or cooperating, or conflict resolution skills, such as nonaggressive, compromising, or persuasive behaviors, as the goals of social skill training. Any behaviors believed to contribute to successful interpersonal functioning in school settings may be the focus of a social skills training program (Stephens, 1978). The definition of the precise behaviors targeted for improvement for a particular student is the first task for teachers, parents, and counselors who are directly involved in improving the student's social skills.

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