Role Concepts in Behavior Pathology

Abstract

Role concepts provide behavior pathology with a background of reciprocal social interaction which makes it unnecessary to build synthetic social constructs out of the fictitious activities of hypothetical, asocial, solitary individuals. Social skills may be formulated on the same plane with mechanical skills; and the acquisition or practice of both skills can be investigated by similar procedures. Behavior pathology is related to a paucity of social roles, to difficulties in shifting perspectives, and to inadequate social self-regulation through the acquired self-reactions. The use of social-role concepts is illustrated in relation to specific behavior disorders.