Social Facilitation

What is Social Facilitation?
Social Facilitation (SF) is a customized and individualized approach to help increase understanding of social situations and modify responses.The typical clientele are children or developmentally disabled adults who have social or behavioral difficulties. Our book, Social Facilitation in Action, is a practical guide to understanding and implementing changes.

Social cues are carefully written out in story form, allowing challenged individuals to grasp the entire "scene," much in the same way a script allows actors to effectively understand their roles.

Who May Benefit from Social Facilitation?
Individuals (children or adults) who for a variety of reasons have not been able to absorb the necessary information to appropriately take part in social situations may benefit from Social Facilitation. Such individuals often have one or more of the following diagnosis:

• Autism 
• Asperger's Syndrome
• Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD) 
• Auditory Dyslexia 
• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder 
• Tourette Syndrome 
• Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder 

Benefits
The psychological impacts of Social Facilitation can include:

• Reduced Anxiety 
• Reduced Maladaptive Behaviors 
• Reduced Negative Behaviors 
• Increased Practical Skills 
• Increased Self Confidence and Self Esteem 

Social Facilitation can

• Broaden a person's view 
• Reveal problems using words, photos, or simple drawings 
• Supply possible unexpressed feelings 

The Social Facilitation Process
The SF process relies on careful observation of the child in specific social settings where the child has difficulties. The process begins with consultations with key people such as teachers, therapists, aides, and parents at the site where these difficulties occur.

Following the observation and consultations, the SF Consultant develops an SF story, album, or interactive adventure to meet the specific needs of that child. The composition is in the voice of first person through the eyes of the child but has the expanded understanding and vision of the consultant. The child, with the support of teachers, therapists, parents and/or peers in order to accomplish the desired changes or goals, then uses the individualized script.