Social skill acquisition and psychosocial development of alcoholics: A review

Studies with data on male prealcoholics and alcoholics are reviewed. The review concentrates on studies which relate to social skill acquisition and the development of interpersonal competence. The role of modeling and family structure; peer relationships in high school, college and adult life; and the effects of alcohol on social responses are considered. The evidence suggests that a social skill acquisition model is a promising one for research on the development and maintenance of problem drinking behaviors.