The paper demonstrates the potential of sociodramatic and role-taking activities for promoting socially competent behavior in the retarded. Possible applicability of a variety of interventin techniques to different settings or countries is considered. The domains of role-taking and sociodramatic activities are seen to comprise an important and productive area of research with significant clinical implications. The authors suggest that sociodramatic activities become a part of any program for the mentally retarded which has social competence, or some type of normalization, as a goal. (Author/SBH)