Teaching social skills 1

The Lovaas model of Applied Behavioural Analysis (ABA) is the most well-known behavioural approach to teaching social skills and is based on the principle that skills can be taught using positive reinforcement. Appropriate behaviour is rewarded, and inappropriate behaviour is redirected or ignored. Not all parents and teachers want to control the contingencies of reinforcement so carefully, so, without abandoning the principles of the behavioural movement totally, they wanted an alternative method of intervention. Problem-solving interventions are used regularly for children and adults with various forms of psychological disorders, but can also be used to support children with social skills difficulties. This approach evolved from research into the problem-solving styles of aggressive children. Whereas the behavioural approaches to learning emphasises the teacher or therapist imparting and reinforcing skills, the developmental approach sees the child as actively engaging in and shaping their learning in a two-way interaction between teaching and learning.