The Social 5
After we overcame the barriers to our social connections as much as possible and dealt with our maladaptive cognitions contributing to our loneliness, training our social skills can further enrich our social life.
Over the years of studying philosophy and psychology academically, as well as working as a coach and analyzing social dynamics in both socially adjusted and struggling individuals, I developed the concept of the Social 5. The Social 5 stands for five social skills—or character traits—that benefit our social lives and help prevent loneliness: Authenticity, Self-Fulfillment, Confrontational Ability, Empathy, and Appreciation. A large body of scientific research has established the positive effects of these skills on social bonding, intimacy, friendship, happiness, and more. What is new here is compiling these five traits into a single concept for treating loneliness and fostering more fulfilling social connections: The Social 5.
Imagine…
- You would always say and do what you think and feel is truly the right thing to say or do.
- You could reliably give yourself a good time, no matter how other people behave or whether you are on your own; you would take care of your needs and desires independently.
- You could effectively deal with social confrontations, such as arguments and verbal attacks.
- You could reliably understand the feelings, needs, and intentions behind what other people say or do.
- You had a deep curiosity about and appreciation for the people you interact with.
Would you be lonely?
This is what it would be like to be highly developed in the five social skills of the Social 5: Authenticity, Self-Fulfillment, Confrontational Ability, Empathy, and Appreciation. The following sections provide overviews and practices for the Social 5 so you can test for yourself whether or not they benefit you. Click on the buttons to navigate to the related pages.