Early Adolescent Development of New Interpersonal Strategies: Understanding and Intervention

The development of social competence in young adolescents is a complex phenomenon not easily characterized by a single developmental theory. This article focuses on one area of adolescent social competence which has been called interpersonal negotiation strategies is focused on. Negotiations occur when one individual tries to meet his/her own needs via interactions with another person with whom he/she has a continuing relation of some personal meaning. Research is examined with respect to an interpersonal negotiations model of adolescent social competence. In addition, the implications of such a model for assessment, intervention, and evaluation are described.