Digital Library: Social Skills

The skills of an individual, reflected in interpersonal relations are called social skills. They involve different capabilities of an individual about how he/she approaches, integrates and works in specific circumstances, whether he/she can cooperate and follow rules in the environment, or solve problems that occur in an effective way, and if he/she can communicate with others in an assertive way. The most important topic in so-called social literacy (person trained and/or skilled in social skills) discussions is a list of behaviours which enable and empower people to function well on a personal and professional level.

Traditional education has not focused on teaching individuals to improve their ‘social skills’, ‘communication skills’, or ‘organisation skills’. But in today’s fast changing society we must move from a rigid definition of social skills as conversation skills to a broader understanding of Social Literacy: an individual’s ability to successfully and deliberately mediate their world as family members, workers, citizens and lifelong learners. Social skills are important on a number of different levels.

In general we can say that Social literacy means the presence of social skills, knowledge and positive human values. These support the ability in people to act positively and responsibly in social settings, and also their ability to successfully and deliberately mediate in their world.  It is a part of an emotional behaviour awareness in which a person recognizes their emotions before they talk or act.

By definition, these include personal, interpersonal and intercultural competences and cover all forms of behaviour that equip individuals to participate in an effective and constructive way in social and working life, particularly in increasingly diverse societies, and to resolve conflict where necessary.

Social Learning Theory (SLT) is one of the most influential learning theories. It states that behaviour is learned from the environment through the process of observational learning. The theory is based on observational learning (or modelling) where a social element is added to the concept of learning, so people (individuals) learn new information and behaviours by watching other people. In modelling, we adopt someone’s behaviour as our own. Thoughts, beliefs, morals and feedback all help to motivate humans. By understanding the main concepts of Social Learning Theory, there is a greater understanding of how people can learn new things and develop new behaviours by observing other people. The learning process appears as a series of cognitive and behavioural processes, like attention, retention, reproduction and motivation.

Based on this, it is important to know that social skills can be learned and enhanced at any age. They allow us to modulate emotions, control behaviour, solve social problems and to be responsible, assertive individuals.

Therefore, social skills could also be called "life skills". Namely, these are skills that we understand in the context of everyday interaction between the individual and the environment. With them, the individual realizes or. meets its needs in the social environment. According to modern definitions, these are skills that are essential for quality coexistence and are much more than just communication skills, as they include experiencing the world and other people and systems of beliefs, values and attitudes.

In the process of applying social skills, three dimensions in particular need to be considered. First, the behavioral dimension, which refers to a type of social skill. Second, the personal dimension associated with a person’s cognitive variables. Finally, there is the situational dimension, which relates to the environmental context.

Types of social skills

1. Basic social skills

Basic social skills are the first skills that people acquire and are essential for interpersonal contact. These skills include the skill to start, maintain and end a conversation, know how to ask questions, and so on.

2. Advanced social skills  

These are skills that people learn after acquiring basic social skills. Among the more advanced social skills we find assertiveness, the skill of giving personal opinion, asking for help, giving you and following instructions, etc.

3. Social- emotional skills

They are characterized by being closely associated with the control and recognition of emotions and feelings. These include empathy, respect, etc.

4. Social negotiation skills

They are those social skills that promote conflict management in the right way. These skills include negotiation, conflict resolution, altruism, sharing with others, and so on.

Interpersonal relationships touch each of us. We are constantly surrounded by people with whom we are in various social, work, emotional contacts and relationships. What kind of relationships we have and how we cultivate them greatly affects our well-being and quality of life. Social skills, especially communication, are the basis for regulating relationships in different social situations, and assertiveness helps us to be aware of, express and assert personal interests / desires in a way that is beneficial to us and harmless to others.

For our needs and the basis for the evaluation of social skills in Socratest project, we have placed the following social skills in the field of providing assistance (volunteers, helpers) and acquiring these skills in crisis situations (e.g. pandemic): communication skills, social intelligence, emotional intelligence, resislience, and assertiveness.