Luis Jorge Martín Antón

University of  Valladolid

Interpersonal context and social competence in educational environments

Participants: Mª Inés Monjas Casares¹; Sonia Olivares Moral¹ and Paula Molinero González¹

¹University of Valladolid

Symposium Summary

Introduction: Today, the importance of social competence for well-being and satisfaction in all areas of life throughout the life cycle is indisputable, and it implies a series of capacities and skills to adequately face an interpersonal task. Most studies have focused on Secondary Education, coinciding with the stage of adolescence, and the implications of cognitive, emotional and behavioural changes that occur at this age. However, many of the necessary skills are developed in earlier stages, in the interaction in the family and school environment, already from early education. This development depends not only on personal capacities but also on the interpersonal climate in which they are produced. Consequently, adequate development of social competence also implies fostering a social environment that facilitates it. Methods: The proposals presented, take into account the interpersonal context in educational stages where research has not been so insistent: Early, Primary and University Education. By sociometric procedures and self-reporting techniques, the relationship of different socio-emotional variables and the interpersonal context is studied. Results: various studies point to the importance of the interpersonal context as a variable to be taken into account when designing and programming interventions for the promotion of social competence. On the other hand, the systematic introduction of programmes to improve social and emotional competence in Early Childhood Education has multiple benefits. Discussion: These studies support the need to systematically implement programmes to improve social competence in the educational environment, which are useful for all students and which guarantee an appropriate interpersonal climate.

Short CV

University Professor in the area of Developmental and Educational Psychology, University of Valladolid. A stretch of research recognized as being alive. Academic Secretary of the Department of Psychology, University of Valladolid. He belongs to the Research Group of Excellence GR179 Educational Psychology. Director of several doctoral theses and author of publications in impact journals related to the following lines of research: evaluation and improvement of cognitive strategies in all educational stages, motivating teaching skills and teaching efficiency, and evaluation and intervention to reduce rejection among school-age peers. He teaches in undergraduate and master's research degrees.