THE ASSESSMENT OF HETEROSOCIAL SKILLS: DISTINGUISHING INITIATION FROM INTERACTIVE SKILLS

MARGARET MONROE ZELLINGER, Purdue University

Abstract

In recent years, researchers have attempted to identify self-report and behavioral characteristics discriminating heterosocially competent males from shy or socially incompetent males. Twentyman, Boland, and McFall (1981) proposed that there were no differences between dating and nondating males once they began a social interaction with a female. Rather, they proposed that high frequency daters were more likely to initiate a conversation with a female stranger than low frequency daters, but that they weren't necessarily more skillful. However, other research has shown significant differences in performance between heterosocially confident and shy males. The present study attempted to resolve this discrepancy by testing the proposition that there may be two distinct sets of social skills involved in an individual's first interaction with a dating partner, and that different assessment measures tap these skills differentially. That is, "shyness" may either reflect ineffective interaction skills or unwillingness to initiate. It was proposed that initiation performance would be primarily a function of the subject's dating frequency, and interactive performance would be primarily a function of the subject's self report of confidence or difficulties in social interactions (as measured by the Survey of Heterosocial Interactions). In the present study, male college students selected jointly on their SHI scores and dating frequency participated in two laboratory and up to six in situ behavioral assessment tasks intended to tap initiation skills, interaction skills, or both. Contrary to expectations, the results of the study indicated that initiation performance is primarily a function of SHI scores, rather than dating frequency. For interactive performance measures, ratings of skill, anxiety, and smoothness were found to be a function of SHI scores, but ratings of attractiveness, estimated dating frequency of the subject, and judges' desire to date the subject were found to be a function of the SHI and dating frequency combined. Thus, while the SHI appears to be a more robust indicator of social competence, dating frequency appears to be relevant to the first impression an individual conveys in an interaction.

Degree

Ph.D.

Subject Area

Psychotherapy

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