Cognitive and Socioemotional Skills

Cognitive skills refers to the “ability to understand complex ideas, to adapt effectively to the environment, to learn from experience, to engage in various forms of reasoning, to overcome obstacles by taking thought.” Cognitive skills are needed for learning, personal and professional development, and the development of other types of skills. They can be broken down into foundational skills—which include basic literacy, numeracy, critical thinking, and problem-solving—and higher-order skills such as more advanced versions of these cognitive skills and others like adaptive learning.

Socioemotional skills are the behaviors, attitudes, and values that a person needs to “navigate interpersonal and social situations effectively,” as well as to “deal effectively and ethically with daily tasks and challenges.” Self-awareness, leadership, teamwork, self-control, and motivation are socioemotional skills. Sometimes referred to as noncognitive skills, socioemotional skills include so-called personality traits, which reflect enduring patterns in how individuals respond to various situations. Socioemotional skills are transversal skills, meaning they are relevant to a broad range of disciplines. They work together with cognitive skills, in that success in meeting many workplace and life challenges depends on both types of skills.

Cognitive skills and socioemotional skills reinforce each other. Individuals with characteristics such as drive, diligence, perseverance, or good social skills are more likely to apply themselves to acquiring cognitive skills, as well as to have positive relationships in their lives. Yet cognitive skills are distinct from socioemotional skills. Acquiring an early solid base of both is critical because both set the course of lifetime trajectories. Individuals with early advantages tend to gain more skills over their lifetimes, and it is difficult for others to close widening gaps over time.