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Heterosocial Competence

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Encyclopedia of Adolescence

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Overview

One of the most significant developmental shifts of adolescence is the transition from primarily same-sex to increasingly mixed-sex peer group interactions. With this shift comes new social challenges and difficulties negotiating other-sex acquaintanceships, friendships, dating relationships, and sexual relationships. A formidable challenge recognized by developmental theorists comes in the form of attempting to integrate growing sexual urges within the boundaries of a committed relationship. Indeed, adolescents name dating and sexual concerns as some of their primary worries. The ability to successfully negotiate this broad range of other-sex social situations is termed heterosocial competence and the requisite skills underlying their successful negotiation are called heterosocial skills. Quality other-sex relationships in adolescence likely provide many benefits, including intimacy, companionship, perspective into the world of the other sex, and opportunities for sexual...

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Loyola University Maryland, 4501 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD, 21210, USA

    Rachel L. Grover

  2. Department of Psychology, University of Maine, 301 Little Hall, Orono, ME, 04469-5782, USA

    Douglas W. Nangle

Authors
  1. Rachel L. Grover
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  2. Douglas W. Nangle
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Rachel L. Grover .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Indiana University, 302 Sycamore Hall, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA

    Roger J. R. Levesque

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© 2011 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC

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Grover, R.L., Nangle, D.W. (2011). Heterosocial Competence. In: Levesque, R.J.R. (eds) Encyclopedia of Adolescence. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-1695-2_52

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-1695-2_52

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4419-1694-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4419-1695-2

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