JCE Social and Life Skills key terms

The ability to notice and understand your own feelings, strengths, weaknesses, values, and how these affect your behaviour and choices. It is the starting point for setting goals and making changes.

The overall opinion you hold about your own worth and abilities. Healthy self-esteem supports confidence and resilience, while very low or inflated self-esteem can distort how you respond to feedback.

The capacity to recover and keep functioning after setbacks, stress, or hardship. It is built through supportive relationships, coping skills, realistic thinking, and experience of overcoming difficulties rather than being fixed at birth.

The set of skills used to manage the intensity and expression of feelings so they do not overwhelm you or harm others. Techniques include pausing, breathing, naming emotions, and choosing a constructive response.

Planned actions a person uses to handle stress or difficult emotions. Healthy examples include exercise, talking to someone, problem-solving, and rest; unhealthy examples include avoidance, substance misuse, or lashing out.

Deliberately reviewing what happened, what you did, and what you would do differently, in order to improve. It turns everyday experience into learning and is valued in both personal development and workplaces.

Defining a specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound target, then breaking it into steps. Clear goals make progress visible and help people stay motivated and focused.

Fully concentrating on a speaker, showing attention, and checking understanding by summarising or asking questions rather than planning your reply. It reduces misunderstandings and makes the other person feel respected.

A question that invites explanation rather than a yes-or-no answer, usually beginning with words such as how, what, or why. Open questions gather detail and keep a conversation going.

Communicating your needs, opinions, and boundaries clearly and respectfully, without ignoring others or giving in to pressure. It sits between passive behaviour, where you stay silent, and aggressive behaviour, where you disregard others.

The messages sent through posture, facial expression, eye contact, gestures, and distance. Nonverbal signals often carry more weight than words and can confirm or contradict what is being said.

The ability to understand another person's feelings and perspective and to respond with sensitivity. It differs from sympathy, which is feeling sorry for someone, because empathy seeks to see the situation from their side.

Information given about how someone's behaviour or work was received, ideally specific, timely, and focused on actions rather than personality. Constructive feedback supports learning; destructive feedback attacks the person.

A process for addressing disagreement by clarifying the issue, listening to all sides, and finding a solution acceptable to those involved. It aims to solve the problem rather than to win or assign blame.

Discussion aimed at reaching an agreement where each side gives and takes something. Good negotiators prepare their priorities, listen to the other party, and look for options that meet both sets of needs.

The limits a person sets about what behaviour they will accept from others and what they will share about themselves. Clear boundaries protect wellbeing and make relationships safer and more respectful.

Freely given, informed, and ongoing agreement to take part in an activity, especially physical or intimate contact. It can be withdrawn at any time, and silence or pressure does not count as agreement.

The people a person can turn to for practical help, advice, or emotional support, such as family, friends, colleagues, or services. A strong network reduces isolation and buffers stress.

Negative labelling and social disapproval attached to a characteristic, condition, or circumstance, which can make people hide their situation or avoid seeking help. Challenging stigma encourages openness and access to support.

A person's emotional, psychological, and social wellbeing, affecting how they think, feel, and handle daily life. It exists on a spectrum and can fluctuate, so everyone benefits from strategies that protect it.

Directing someone to the appropriate service, helpline, or professional when an issue is beyond your role or knowledge. It is a responsible response that connects people with expert help rather than leaving them unsupported.

The actions taken to protect children and vulnerable adults from harm, abuse, or neglect. It includes recognising warning signs, following reporting procedures, and never promising to keep a disclosure secret.

Routine practices such as washing hands, bathing, and caring for teeth that reduce the spread of infection and support dignity and confidence. Good hygiene is also expected in most workplaces and shared living settings.

Immediate basic care given to someone who is injured or suddenly unwell before professional help arrives. It includes assessing danger, calling emergency services, and providing CPR or wound care within your training.

Identifying what could cause harm, judging how likely and serious that harm is, and deciding what controls to put in place. It is used in workplaces, community activities, and everyday planning to prevent accidents.

A system of government in which power comes from the people, usually through free and fair elections, and in which rights, laws, and opposition are respected. Citizens participate by voting and holding representatives accountable.

The process of adding your name to the electoral roll so you are eligible to vote in elections. It usually must be done before a deadline and updated when you move address.

Giving time and skills to help others or a cause without payment. It builds community ties, develops employability skills, and offers experience and references that can support job applications.

Speaking up for a cause, group, or person, or supporting someone to express their own views and access their rights. It can range from signing a petition to representing others in a formal meeting.

The transferable abilities employers look for, such as communication, teamwork, reliability, problem-solving, and digital literacy. They are developed through work, study, volunteering, and everyday life rather than only in a job.

A short written summary of a person's education, work history, skills, and achievements, used to apply for jobs. It should be tailored to each role and checked carefully for accuracy and spelling.

A meeting in which an employer assesses whether an applicant suits a role and the applicant learns more about the job. Preparation involves researching the organisation and giving specific examples of relevant experience.

An initial trial stage of employment, often a few months, during which performance is reviewed against expectations. Terms vary by contract, so new employees should check their notice and review arrangements.

A plan that compares expected income with planned spending over a period, helping a person control money and save for goals. A realistic budget tracks actual spending and is reviewed and adjusted regularly.

The money coming in, such as wages or benefits, and the money going out on bills, food, and other costs. Comparing the two shows whether a person is living within their means.

A document from an employer showing gross pay, tax and other deductions, and net pay for a pay period. Checking it helps employees spot errors and understand what they actually received.

Money owed to a lender, such as a loan, credit card balance, or unpaid bill. Debt becomes risky when repayments exceed what a person can afford, so interest rates and repayment terms matter.

Money set aside rather than spent, often in an account that pays interest, to cover emergencies or future goals. Even small regular amounts build a financial buffer against unexpected costs.

A dishonest scheme that tricks people into giving away money or personal details, often through fake messages, offers, or callers. Warning signs include urgency, requests for payment by unusual methods, and unsolicited contact.

A legal contract between a landlord and a tenant setting out rent, deposit, length of stay, and the responsibilities of each side. Reading it before signing prevents disputes about repairs, notice, and rules.

Planning and organising how time is used so important tasks are completed and deadlines are met. Useful methods include prioritising, breaking tasks down, and reducing distractions.

A written list of the steps needed to reach a goal, with who does what and by when. It converts an intention into concrete tasks and makes progress easier to monitor.

The skills needed to use devices, software, and the internet safely and effectively, including finding reliable information and protecting personal data. It is increasingly required for work, banking, and public services.