Interpersonal strategies of unpopular children: Some implications for social skills training

Reciprocity is regarded as an important process in social skills training programs. This paper argues that establishing the purpose of the observed inappropriate social behavior could help in understanding the dynamics of reciprocal relationships. It explores the proposition that inappropriate behavior often can occur because an unpopular child adopts an interpersonal strategy in order to cope with rejection by others. Studies are reviewed that suggest that differential deficiencies in social skills are associated with the type of strategy adopted–avoidant or approach.