Role-taking ability and the interpersonal tactics of retarded children.

The relationship between social role-taking ability and preferences for interpersonal control tactics was assessed in 50 mentally retarded children. Feffer's Role-Taking Task and two hypothetical interpersonal control episodes were used as experimental measures. Results were that role-taking proficiency was associated with the development of alter-directed tactics or tactics by which the subject appeared to take into account the needs, motivations, or expectations of others. Neither MA nor IQ were significant predictors of interpersonal tactic choice. Controls for IQ and MA did not alter the significance of the association between role-taking and general tactic preferences.