Social intelligence is really important for how we behave in social situations. It means being able to understand others and act responsibly in relationships with people. Social intelligence is made up of different abilities and skills, like being aware of social cues and emotions, understanding others’ feelings and opinions, and being able to adapt to different social situations (Petrides et al., 2011; Thorndike & Stein, 1937). Social intelligence is different from other types of intelligence because it focuses on how we interact with others (Laborde & Mosley, 2019). In sports, having good social intelligence can help athletes work well with their teammates, understand what their opponents are thinking or feeling, and handle conflicts in a respectful way (Laborde & Mosley, 2019). It can also help athletes be good leaders and work well with others on a team. Researchers are still trying to figure out the full extent social intelligence can be applied in sport (Laborde & Mosley, 2019). For example, how sports impact our relationships with others in other areas of life.
Petrides, K. V., Mason, M., & Sevdalis, N. (2011). Preliminary validation of the construct of trait social intelligence. Personality and Individual Differences, 50, 874877.
Thorndike, R. L., & Stein, S. (1937). An evaluation of the attempts to measure social intelligence. Psychological bulle- tin, 34, 275285.
Laborde, S., & Mosley, E. (2019). In D. Hackfort, R. J. Schinke, & B. Strauss (Eds.), Dictionary of sport psychology: Sport, exercise, and performing arts. Academic Press.
