Categories of Life Skills

The following life skills including the psycho-social and interpersonal skills which are generally considered important:

• Interpersonal communication skills:

These skills enable a person to express feelings and give feedback and receive feedback. Moreover, the person learns to be a good listener.

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• Negotiation/refusal skills:

These skills allow a person to assert himself/herself in a situation, which he/she feels, is not conducive for him/her. It also enables a person to refuse peer pressures for activities that are morally wrong.

• Empathy:

Through this skill an individual develops the ability o listen to and understand other’s needs and behaviour in a particular situation and is able to express that understanding.

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• Advocacy skills:

This enables the individual to have influence on others and present the cause that one perceives as right. Through these skills the individual can motivate people and work towards the fight for a just cause.

• Decision-making/problem-solving :

These skills enable a person to gather vital information on important issues and evaluate the further consequences of the present actions for self and others. The individual, when faced with a problem situation is able to find alternative solutions.

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• Critical thinking skills:

These skills enable the individual to analyse the situation occurring in and around him/her and the factors affecting the change. The individual is able to take a conscious decision based on his/her understanding rather than the one presented to him/her.

• Coping and self-management skills:

These skills help to build the confidence of the individual and further develop his/her awareness regarding rights, values etc. It also enables the individual to manage his/her anger and other emotions and cope with loss, anxiety etc. These skills also help the individual to manage one’s own time and reflect positive thinking.