social intelligence: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
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Quick answer
What does “social intelligence” mean?
The capacity to effectively navigate and negotiate complex social relationships and environments.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The capacity to effectively navigate and negotiate complex social relationships and environments.
A set of interrelated skills for perceiving, understanding, managing, and using emotions and social information to guide thinking and behavior, fostering successful interpersonal interaction and adaptation.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical difference; concept is identical.
Connotations
Slightly more associated with academic and business psychology in both varieties.
Frequency
Comparable frequency; perhaps marginally more common in American corporate/self-help discourse.
Grammar
How to Use “social intelligence” in a Sentence
[Subject] has/possesses/displays social intelligence.[Subject] applied their social intelligence to [situation].A lack of social intelligence can lead to [negative outcome].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “social intelligence” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- N/A for the phrase itself. One can 'socially engineer'.
American English
- N/A for the phrase itself. One can 'network intelligently'.
adverb
British English
- She handled the complaint very socially intelligently.
American English
- He navigated the party socially intelligently.
adjective
British English
- He is remarkably socially intelligent for his age.
American English
- We need a socially intelligent approach to the merger.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Crucial for leadership, teamwork, and client relations; e.g., 'Her social intelligence makes her an effective manager.'
Academic
Studied in psychology, sociology, and neuroscience as a component of human intelligence.
Everyday
Used to describe someone who is perceptive and adept in social situations.
Technical
In AI research, refers to a machine's ability to interpret and respond to human social cues.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “social intelligence”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “social intelligence”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “social intelligence”
- Using it interchangeably with 'extroversion' (a personality trait, not a skill).
- Confusing it with general intelligence (IQ).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. It is the cognitive ability to understand social situations. A socially intelligent person may choose to be assertive or diplomatic, not just friendly.
Yes, through conscious observation, feedback, practicing active listening, and learning about social norms and psychology.
EQ focuses on recognizing and managing one's own and others' emotions. Social intelligence is broader, encompassing understanding social contexts, rules, and dynamics beyond just the emotional component.
It is challenging to measure objectively, but psychologists use questionnaires, situational judgement tests, and ability-based measures to assess components of it.
The capacity to effectively navigate and negotiate complex social relationships and environments.
Social intelligence is usually formal to neutral in register.
Social intelligence: in British English it is pronounced /ˌsəʊʃəl ɪnˈtɛl.ɪ.dʒəns/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌsoʊ.ʃəl ɪnˈtɛl.ə.dʒəns/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Read the room (related concept)”
- “Have a way with people”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a SOCIALLY INTELLIGENT person as a 'SOCIAL DETECTIVE' – they expertly gather clues (social cues) to understand people and situations.
Conceptual Metaphor
SOCIAL INTELLIGENCE IS A NAVIGATIONAL TOOL / MAP FOR SOCIAL TERRAIN.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the BEST example of demonstrating social intelligence?