Elements of Competence in Interpersonal Relations

Competence in interpersonal relations has long been a concern of psychiatrists and clinical psychologists. In 1955, Foote and Cottrell presented a statement in which they proposed the use of competence in interpersonal relations in family research (6). Basic to their statement is the assumption that social theory can develop along numerous paths. If the ultimate aim of the social sciences is to solve social problems, theory which develops from a direct concern with social problems will probably in the long run be the most useful in the solution of these problems. Hence, there should be a convergence of the concerns of the social scientists and the population studied. Briefly stated, the argument by Foote and Cottrell was that, with rapidly changing social conditions, family social structure itself would be continually reorganized to meet new demands of society. Hence, older concepts in family research (such as adjustment), which are focussed upon a particular kind of family organization with traditional roles and functions, are not appropriate to handle the new situations. Competence in interpersonal relations, however, should enable effective handling of family affairs in the face of changing social conditions. The concern of the social scientist is with the developmental process and measurement of competence; the concern of the interested population is with the achievement of competence. As an aim for achievement in the population, competence in interpersonal relations is essentially a value. The characterization of the particular elements of interpersonal competence must then rest upon their formulation in the population. According to Foote and Cottrell, then, elements of interpersonal