Improving same-sex and heterosocial interactions of emotionally disturbed adolescents

This study attempted to increase the occurrence of sexual-social interactions of emotionally disturbed adolescents. Two males' and two females' sexual-social interactions were analyzed within a special eduction classroom. An extension of a reversal design (baseline/individual) contingency and response cost/group contingency /individual contingency and response cost ) was used to assess treatment effects on same-sex and heterosocial interactions. In addition, the group contingency condition was staggered in a multiple baseline fachion across the two response classes. The results indicate that, regardless of sex, group contingencies are more effective than individual contingencies in increasing positive sexual-social interactions. More important, it was inferred from the results that emotionally disturbed adolescents' social interactions represent difficulties of performance rather than competence.