Social Skills Training: The Current Status of the Field

Abstract

This paper begins by addressing the issue of normalization and how it has been misapplied both in general and to social skills. Then, some of the problems with current social skills research are discussed. This is followed by a description of the development of a comprehensive social skills training program that can be used to teach general social skills, social vocational skills, and social sexual skills that are maintained for upwards to 18 months. The paper concludes with a description of a recent study that suggested that a) social skills develop slowly, b) a distinction must be made between socially skilful and socially appropriate behaviour, and c) the environment must be properly prepared to ensure that newly learned skills will be maintained.