The variety of social skills: remarks by the discussant

Drawing analogies between social and perceptual motor skills can obscure the very different aims of participants in different social situations. Dissimilar social encounters often demand dissimilar abilities. Appropriate behavior in one case may be completely inappropriate in another. Insofar as there is a recognizable general social skill, everyday observation suggests that this usually improves during the adult years and does not deteriorate in later life unless sensory loss is severe or mental illness strikes. The special demands of institutional living might be alleviated through the efforts of sensitive care-givers, but professionals should be wary of accentuating minor problems. The vast majority of elderly people cope adequately with their social relationships without special courses.