Social Development

Social development is the progression of social and emotional knowledge, skills, and competencies across the life span that enable individuals to interact with and form relationships with others. From infancy through adulthood, this complex process sets the foundation for learning and individual well-being and influences many facets of life, including family, peer, and romantic relationships; school readiness and achievement; employment and effectiveness in the workplace; and community engagement. The term social development encompasses a wide range of interrelated core competencies that are salient across the life course, such as the ability to share enjoyment, [Page 2042]read social cues, regulate emotions, show empathy, and form positive relationships with peers. An increasingly robust body of neuroscience and genetic research indicates that social development has a biological foundation ...