According to social information-processing models (e.g., Crick & Dodge, 1994; Rubin & Krasnor, 1986), encoding and interpretation of social cues as well as an individual’s desired goals influence decisions about enactment of social behavior. The process starts with interpretation of social cues and activation of a search for behavioral strategies likely to maximize the achievement of a desired goal and minimize negative consequences. Hence, the perception of a social context leads to enactment of certain behaviors depending on an individual’s social goals. Research on social schemas (Salmivalli & Peets, 2009) also suggests that examining perceptions of social context and desired outcomes is important for understanding adolescent behavior.
