Heterosocial interactions, or social interactions with other-sex peers, are theorized to serve a number of unique developmental functions for adolescents (e.g., companionship, intimacy, experimentation with sex-role behaviors and sexual activity). Yet despite the importance of heterosocial competence in adolescent social development, there exists little research on the construct. Early research, although informative, reflects a narrow focus on heterosocial anxiety associated with date initiation situations. More recent research has broadened its purview to include investigations of the relation of heterosocial competence to the normative development of romantic relationships, as well as depression, anxiety, and violence in adolescent relationships. To facilitate further research, an expanded, well-defined description of the construct of adolescent heterosocial competence is needed that includes other-sex interactions in casual relationships, friendships, and romantic relationships. In this article we detail the historical and current definitions of the construct and encourage a broader understanding in the context of the developmental psychopathology framework. We follow with a review of our decade-long efforts to better operationally define and assess the construct by summarizing the development and validation of two measures: The Measure of Adolescent Heterosocial Competence and the Measure of Adolescent Heterosocial Competence-Young Adult Version. Finally, we suggest directions for future research.

By far, most research on the behavior of socially anxious individuals has focused on the "flight" rather than the "fight" response described in the traditional conceptualization of anxiety. More recently, however, there has been some speculation and emerging evidence suggesting that social anxiety and aggression may be related. The present study examined social anxiety as a predictor of dating aggression within a late adolescent sample. Two forms of dating aggression were assessed: physical aggression, such as slapping, use of a weapon, or forced sexual activity, and psychological aggression, such as slamming doors, insulting, or refusing to talk to one's partner. One aspect of social anxiety, Fear of Negative Evaluation (FNE), emerged as a significant predictor of male dating aggression, even after controlling for relationship quality. Notably, FNE was most predictive of increased aggression of both types when men also perceived their romantic relationship to be more antagonistic. Despite its demonstrated importance as a contextual variable, however, relationship quality did not mediate the association between FNE and psychological or physical aggression. Implications for prevailing conceptualizations of social anxiety and dating aggression are discussed.

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Guided by the Goldfried and D’Zurilla behavioral-analytic model, we developed and psychometrically evaluated a measure of heterosocial competence and, in doing so, learned more about the construct in young adults. The Measure of Heterosocial Competence (MHC) is a social problem-solving questionnaire assessing competence in challenging other-sex social interactions. Internal consistency was acceptable and component analyses yielded one hierarchical factor and two group factors suggesting that heterosocial competence is comprised of the ability to initiate interactions, resolve conflict, and manage sexual situations. The MHC was significantly related to measures of general social competence, anxiety in heterosexual situations, and relationship quality and conflict. The MHC appears to be a promising and unique measure with potential in both research and applied settings.

The criminal justice system has long been delineated along juvenile and adult lines. The ostensible rationale for this separation was that juveniles are developmentally distinct from adults; they require less punitive, more rehabilitative treatment than adults in order to improve their behavior. The underlying assumption is that adults are fully mature, and so developmental programs will be ineffective for them. However, recent research has indicated that young or emerging adults are not fully mature, either socially or physiologically. This has led for some to call for a new, “third way” approach for young adult offenders. We describe a program in Maine designed for young adult offenders, in which inmates are separated from both juveniles and adults and provided a diverse array of programming.