Behavioral Rehearsal

Description of the Strategy

According to the tenets underlying social learning theory, social skills may be markedly improved through observation and practice of relevant target behaviors, particularly when accompanied by accurate feedback. In behavioral rehearsal, the primary method for improving social skills in children, a facilitator first assists the child in identifying the social skill deficit to be addressed. This is usually accomplished by asking the child, or significant others who have observed the child in social situations, to report problems the child had experienced during social situations. Social skill deficits are also identified by observing the child in naturalistic settings (e.g., school playground, classroom, family dinner, basketball game) or during simulated social scenarios with a confederate. Deficits vary widely but are often ...