Effects of Situation on Dating and Assertive Behavior
This study compared the behavioral pattern of assertive subjects in two areas of social skills, assertive and dating behavior. It was hypothesized that the individual's behavior is affected by both the skill required and the immediate environment. 12 male and 12 female assertive university students were asked to interact with trained role-players in simulated social situations geared to elicit assertiveness and heterosexual dating behavior. Subject's and role-player's familiarity as well as social consequences (role-player's responses) were manipulated. Subjects showed different patterns of performance contingent upon the skill and the situational components. The validity of clustering isolated behaviors to obtain average social performance scores as well as some clinical and research implications are discussed.