What is the expected outcome of teaching social skills?

The expected outcome of teaching social skills is primarily to improve peer interactions and cooperation. When individuals, particularly children with social difficulties or developmental disabilities, are taught social skills, they gain the ability to communicate effectively, understand social cues, and engage positively with their peers. This leads to better relationships, increased collaborative play, and more successful interactions in various social settings, which are the foundational elements of social competence.

Enhancing academic performance may be a secondary benefit of improved social skills, as better interactions can lead to increased engagement in the classroom, but it is not the primary goal of social skills training itself. Similarly, while social skills training may indirectly help reduce isolation, the positive outcome is not merely focused on the absence of isolation but on fostering deeper and more meaningful engagements with peers. Reducing verbal behavior is typically not an outcome associated with teaching social skills, as the goal is to encourage effective communication rather than minimizing expression. Therefore, the core aim is to enhance interactions and cooperation among peers, which is why the chosen answer reflects the essence of social skills training.