Social competence during adolescence: Social sensitivity,locus of control,empathy, and peer popularity

In male and female adolescents aged 14, 15, 17, and 18 years of age, the predictive relationship between social competency and peer relations and age differences in social competence were studied. Based upon a social deficit hypothesis, linear age differences were observed in social knowledge, locus of control, and a trend in empathy. Some sex differences were found, but no sex by age interactions were observed. The predicted relationship between social competency and peer popularity was supported, but was different according to sex of the adolescent.Support for this project was provided by the Science/Education Administration of the USDA and the Utah State University Agricultural Experiment Station through the W144 Regional Research Project on Social Competency in Childhood.Received Ph.D. from Penn State University. Research interests are adolescent personality and social development.