Social competence, mental healthand disablity

Prof. Dr. Manfred Pretis

Presentation for the SGSCC Workshop

Brussels, 17.12.2014

Dieses Projekt wurde mit Unterstützung der Europäischen Kommission finanziert. Die Verantwortung für den Inhalt dieser Veröffentlichung (Mitteilung) trägt allein der Verfasser; die Kommission haftet nicht für die weitere Verwendung der darin enthaltenen Angaben.

Take home messages

• In the disablity and mental health area socialcompetence plays a key role

• The „functionning“ of a persons with disabiltyand/or mental health problems to a highextent is correlated to his/her socialcompetences

• Most frequently cited is the Rubin and Rose-Krasnor (1992) definition:

• Social competence is “the ability to achieve personal goals in social interaction

• while simultaneously maintaining positive relationships with others over time

• and across situations” (p. 285).

Social Competence

Semrud-Clikeman (2007) describes that social competence is the foundation upon which

“expectations for future interaction with others is built, and upon which individuals develop perceptions of their own behaviour (p. 1).”

Schoon (2009) summarises in a broad sense that “social competencies reflect adjustment in the family, school, work, in society at large, and in old age, requiring more context specific definitions of the construct , as well as a focus on particular facets of social competence, such as empathy, self control, trust, respect for other people, or civic engagement” (p.2).

So what?

DSM IV diagnosis: where can we identify aspects of social

competence

Social competence – disability and mental health

• 2. Deficits or impairments in adaptive functioning

• This includes skills needed to live in an independent and responsible manner. Limited abilities in these life skills make it difficult to achieve age appropriate standards of behavior. Without these skills, a person needs additional supports to succeed at school, work, or independent life. Deficits in adaptive functioning are measured using standardized, culturally appropriate tests.

• Various skills are needed for daily living:

• Communication: This refers to the ability to convey information from one person to another. Communication is conveyed through words and actions. It involves the ability to understand others, and to express one's self through words or actions.

• Social skills: This refers to the ability to interact effectively with others. We usually take social skills for granted. However, these skills are critical for success in life. These skills include the ability to understand and comply with social rules, customs, and standards of public behavior. This intricate function requires the ability to process figurative language and detect unspoken cues such as body language

Intellectal disability

Depression

Video message from Max, 22 years, VLBW, cerbral palsy,

visual impairment, calculation dycalculia

What is social competence for Max?

What is needed to behave in a social competent way?

How could social competence and creativity be trained?

Further important aspects

Social competence from a beneficiairies point of

view

Social competence is seen as a major pre-requist towards professional training

Social competence is not only about training the beneficiaries but also to expect respect from OTHERS. Social competence is ALSO an issue of the OTHERS

Training of social competence might also include broader support processes

IT is the WAY of INCLUSION and not primarily the effort of a PWD to learn competencies!!

Lessons learnt from Max

Perspective for the pilot runs:

Trainers/Mentors will be able to observe, that the training

of social compentences and creativity makes a

difference for the beneficiaries

We will be able within the project to enable transfer

effects between cognitions and emotions of beneficiaries

(concerning their social competence and creativity) and

daily life/employablity

Discussion

Please visit our projects

www.icf-training.eu

www.games4competence.eu

MSH Medical School Hamburg GmbH

Fachhochschule für Gesundheit und Medizin

Tel.: 040 / 36 00 65 - 42

Fax: 040 / 36 00 65 - 43

E-Mail: info@medicalschool-hamburg.de

www.medicalschool-hamburg.de

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This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This publication [communication] reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible

for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.

Thanks and a „SERVUS“ from Austria

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