a conceptual framework within which to view social skills. Such a framework allows one to understand why it is important to develop social skills, and the effects that such skill development should have. If the reader has a thorough understanding of the concept of social skills and their development, it becomes possible to make appropriate innovations and adaptions to his or her own circumstances. Without such a framework, social-skills training becomes little more than a collection of disjointed techniques. Also, without a conceptual understanding, pro­ cedural innovations are difficult to incorporate into training.