MSCE Social and Life Skills key terms

The ability to notice and understand your own thoughts, feelings, strengths, weaknesses and habits, and to recognise how these affect what you say and do.

How much worth and confidence you feel about yourself. It grows from realistic achievement, fair treatment by others and the habit of speaking to yourself with respect.

The sense of who you are, built from your values, culture, family, beliefs, abilities and experiences, and from the choices you make about the kind of person you want to be.

The principles a person considers most important, such as honesty, fairness or family loyalty. They guide decisions and help you judge whether an action is right.

Influence from people of similar age or status to think or act in a certain way. It can be positive or negative and is easier to resist when you have clear values and refusal skills.

Communicating your needs, opinions and boundaries honestly and firmly without attacking others or giving in silently. It protects your rights while respecting the rights of other people.

Practical ways of saying no to pressure, such as giving a clear reason, suggesting another activity, leaving the situation or repeating your answer calmly without apology.

Paying full attention to a speaker, showing interest through body language, asking questions and summarising what you heard before responding. It reduces misunderstanding in relationships.

The ability to understand and share another person's feelings by imagining their situation. It supports kindness, reduces judgement and helps resolve disagreements peacefully.

A process for settling disagreements through calm talk, listening to both sides and finding a solution acceptable to everyone, instead of using insults or violence.

Discussion aimed at reaching an agreement in which each side gives and receives something. It is used in families, workplaces and relationships to settle differences without force.

A clear, voluntary and informed yes to something, given freely by someone able to decide. It can be withdrawn at any time, and silence or pressure is never consent.

A state of physical and mental wellbeing in all matters relating to the reproductive system, including the ability to have a safe and satisfying sexual life and to decide freely whether and when to have children.

Methods or actions used to prevent pregnancy, such as condoms, pills or abstinence. Correct and consistent use matters, and condoms also reduce the risk of many infections.

An infection passed mainly through unprotected sexual contact, caused by bacteria, viruses or parasites. Many show no symptoms, so testing and safer behaviour are important.

Human immunodeficiency virus, which weakens the body's immune system. It spreads through unprotected sex, infected blood and from mother to child; it is not spread by hugging or sharing food.

Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, the late stage of untreated HIV infection when the immune system is badly damaged. Antiretroviral treatment lets most people with HIV live long, healthy lives.

Treatment with medicines that suppress HIV, protect the immune system and greatly reduce transmission. Taken consistently, it allows a person with HIV to live a normal, productive life.

Negative labelling and unfair treatment of people because of a health condition, identity or behaviour. Stigma around HIV and mental health discourages testing and support, so challenging it protects public health.

Eating a variety of foods in the right amounts to supply energy, protein, vitamins, minerals and fibre. It includes plenty of vegetables and fruit and limits sugar, salt and processed fat.

Poor health caused by an unbalanced diet, including undernutrition from too little food or nutrients and overnutrition from excess energy, sugar or fat. Both forms harm growth and learning.

Harmful use of alcohol, tobacco, drugs or other substances, including use that damages health, relationships, studies or work. Dependence is a treatable health condition, not a moral failure.

A chronic condition in which a person keeps using a substance or behaviour despite harm, often with craving and difficulty stopping. It usually needs professional support and social support to manage.

Actions that help people protect and improve their health, such as health education, clean water, vaccination, exercise and policies that make healthy choices easier.

Practices that keep food safe, including washing hands and surfaces, cooking food thoroughly, storing it at safe temperatures and protecting it from flies and dirty water.

Membership of a state that carries legal rights and duties, together with the everyday practice of participating responsibly in your community and respecting others.

Basic entitlements that belong to every person simply because they are human, such as life, dignity, education, expression and freedom from torture, regardless of nationality, sex or belief.

The duty to act properly, accept the results of your choices and consider how your actions affect other people and the community. Rights and responsibilities depend on each other.

A system of government in which power comes from the people, who choose leaders through free and fair elections and can hold them to account between elections.

The principle that everyone, including government officials, is subject to the same known laws applied fairly and independently. It prevents arbitrary use of power.

The highest set of rules for a state, setting out how government is organised and the rights of citizens. Other laws must not contradict it.

The obligation of people in power to explain and answer for their decisions, and to face consequences when they misuse authority. It requires transparency and effective oversight.

Managing waste, water and human waste safely so that surroundings are clean and disease is prevented. It includes toilets, refuse collection, drainage and safe drinking water.

Planning and controlling the use of land, water, forests, minerals, wildlife and energy so that they are not exhausted and future generations can still benefit from them.

Using resources and running activities in a way that meets present needs without damaging the ability of later generations to meet theirs. It balances economic, social and environmental concerns.

Long-term shifts in temperature and weather patterns, mainly driven by human emissions of greenhouse gases. It affects rainfall, farming, health and settlement, and requires adaptation.

Choosing between options by identifying the problem, gathering information, weighing consequences for yourself and others, deciding, then reviewing the result.

Working out the cause of a difficulty and finding and testing practical solutions instead of reacting impulsively. It often follows a clear sequence of steps.

Deciding on a specific result you want and describing it clearly, with a time frame and measurable steps. Written, realistic goals are easier to plan for and review.

A simple written schedule of the steps, resources, people and dates needed to reach a goal. It turns an intention into tasks you can check and adjust.

Spotting a need in the market and organising resources, skills and risk-taking to create a product or service that meets it, often by starting and running a small business.

A written description of a business idea covering the product, customers, competitors, costs, expected income and marketing. It guides start-up and helps obtain finance.

A plan of expected income and spending over a period. It helps a person, family or business control money, avoid debt and save for priorities.