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Individuals with social intelligence can sense how other people feel, know intuitively what to say in social situations, and seem self-assured, even in a larger crowd. You might think of these folk as having “people skills,” but what they truly possess is social intelligence.
Signs of Social Intelligence
People who are socially intelligent display core traits that help them communicate and connect with others.
How to Develop Social Intelligence
While some people may seem to develop social intelligence without really trying, others have to work to develop it. Luckily, certain strategies can help a person build social skills. These tactics can help you develop social intelligence:
A Word From Verywell
Social intelligence isn’t easy to master—if it were, there wouldn’t ever be anotherawkward conversationat a party. However, working toward a strong social intelligence can lead to a richer life—or, at least, an easier time making a few new friends.
Study social situations. Pay attention to what people are doing well and the mistakes you want to avoid. Afterward, think about what you want to do differently in the next social situation you enter.
Get proactive about improving your skills. And remember, that you’re going to mess up sometimes. Learn from your failures as well as your successes.
5 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Zautra EK, Zautra AJ, Gallardo CE, Velasco L. Can We Learn to Treat One Another Better? A Test of a Social Intelligence Curriculum. PLoS ONE. 2015;10(6):e0128638. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0128638Maloney ME, Moore P. From aggressive to assertive. Int J Womens Dermatol. 2020;6(1):46-49. doi:10.1016/j.ijwd.2019.09.006Graziano MS, Kastner S. Human consciousness and its relationship to social neuroscience: A novel hypothesis. Cogn Neurosci. 2011;2(2):98-113. doi:10.1080/17588928.2011.565121Qian J, Wang B, Han Z, Song B. Ethical Leadership, Leader-Member Exchange and Feedback Seeking: A Double-Moderated Mediation Model of Emotional Intelligence and Work-Unit Structure. Front Psychol. 2017;8:1174. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2017.01174Kawamichi H, Yoshihara K, Sasaki AT, et al. Perceiving active listening activates the reward system and improves the impression of relevant experiences. Soc Neurosci. 2015;10(1):16-26. doi:10.1080/17470919.2014.954732Additional ReadingMaltese A, Alesi M, Alù AGM.Self-Esteem, Defensive Strategies and Social Intelligence in the Adolescence.Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences. 2012;69:2054-2060.Emmerling RJ, Boyatzis RE.Emotional and social intelligence competencies: cross cultural implications.Cross Cultural Management: An International Journal. 2012;19(1):4-18.
5 Sources
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Zautra EK, Zautra AJ, Gallardo CE, Velasco L. Can We Learn to Treat One Another Better? A Test of a Social Intelligence Curriculum. PLoS ONE. 2015;10(6):e0128638. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0128638Maloney ME, Moore P. From aggressive to assertive. Int J Womens Dermatol. 2020;6(1):46-49. doi:10.1016/j.ijwd.2019.09.006Graziano MS, Kastner S. Human consciousness and its relationship to social neuroscience: A novel hypothesis. Cogn Neurosci. 2011;2(2):98-113. doi:10.1080/17588928.2011.565121Qian J, Wang B, Han Z, Song B. Ethical Leadership, Leader-Member Exchange and Feedback Seeking: A Double-Moderated Mediation Model of Emotional Intelligence and Work-Unit Structure. Front Psychol. 2017;8:1174. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2017.01174Kawamichi H, Yoshihara K, Sasaki AT, et al. Perceiving active listening activates the reward system and improves the impression of relevant experiences. Soc Neurosci. 2015;10(1):16-26. doi:10.1080/17470919.2014.954732Additional ReadingMaltese A, Alesi M, Alù AGM.Self-Esteem, Defensive Strategies and Social Intelligence in the Adolescence.Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences. 2012;69:2054-2060.Emmerling RJ, Boyatzis RE.Emotional and social intelligence competencies: cross cultural implications.Cross Cultural Management: An International Journal. 2012;19(1):4-18.
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Zautra EK, Zautra AJ, Gallardo CE, Velasco L. Can We Learn to Treat One Another Better? A Test of a Social Intelligence Curriculum. PLoS ONE. 2015;10(6):e0128638. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0128638Maloney ME, Moore P. From aggressive to assertive. Int J Womens Dermatol. 2020;6(1):46-49. doi:10.1016/j.ijwd.2019.09.006Graziano MS, Kastner S. Human consciousness and its relationship to social neuroscience: A novel hypothesis. Cogn Neurosci. 2011;2(2):98-113. doi:10.1080/17588928.2011.565121Qian J, Wang B, Han Z, Song B. Ethical Leadership, Leader-Member Exchange and Feedback Seeking: A Double-Moderated Mediation Model of Emotional Intelligence and Work-Unit Structure. Front Psychol. 2017;8:1174. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2017.01174Kawamichi H, Yoshihara K, Sasaki AT, et al. Perceiving active listening activates the reward system and improves the impression of relevant experiences. Soc Neurosci. 2015;10(1):16-26. doi:10.1080/17470919.2014.954732
Zautra EK, Zautra AJ, Gallardo CE, Velasco L. Can We Learn to Treat One Another Better? A Test of a Social Intelligence Curriculum. PLoS ONE. 2015;10(6):e0128638. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0128638
Maloney ME, Moore P. From aggressive to assertive. Int J Womens Dermatol. 2020;6(1):46-49. doi:10.1016/j.ijwd.2019.09.006
Graziano MS, Kastner S. Human consciousness and its relationship to social neuroscience: A novel hypothesis. Cogn Neurosci. 2011;2(2):98-113. doi:10.1080/17588928.2011.565121
Qian J, Wang B, Han Z, Song B. Ethical Leadership, Leader-Member Exchange and Feedback Seeking: A Double-Moderated Mediation Model of Emotional Intelligence and Work-Unit Structure. Front Psychol. 2017;8:1174. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2017.01174
Kawamichi H, Yoshihara K, Sasaki AT, et al. Perceiving active listening activates the reward system and improves the impression of relevant experiences. Soc Neurosci. 2015;10(1):16-26. doi:10.1080/17470919.2014.954732
Maltese A, Alesi M, Alù AGM.Self-Esteem, Defensive Strategies and Social Intelligence in the Adolescence.Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences. 2012;69:2054-2060.Emmerling RJ, Boyatzis RE.Emotional and social intelligence competencies: cross cultural implications.Cross Cultural Management: An International Journal. 2012;19(1):4-18.
Maltese A, Alesi M, Alù AGM.Self-Esteem, Defensive Strategies and Social Intelligence in the Adolescence.Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences. 2012;69:2054-2060.
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