Developmental models of social cognition in assessing psychosocial adjustments in head injury

This study compared the levels of conceptual responses involved in the processing of two parameters of social cognition in a group of 40 adult patients with closed-head injury (CHI) and a group of 26 normal controls. The two parameters, interpersonal negotiation strategies (INS) and self understanding (self) were examined in the framework of Selman's model of social perspective taking and Damon and Hart's multidimensional model of self understanding. Differences among the components of the INS conflict dilemmas and aspects of self descriptions were observed in a structure interview. Results supported the hypothesis that the CHI group would respond at lower levels on the development measures of social cognition. The results of the present study are in agreement with the conclusions in the initial study. This study also extended the study of social cognition to the Tennessee Self Concept Scale and the Neurobehavioral Rating Scale, in addition to incorporating a control group. These studies support the view that psychosocial adjustment is a multidimensional construct and developmental social cognition methods appear to advance our understanding of this concept in CHI patients.