ADDIS ABABA UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF
NATURAL AND COMPUTATIONAL SCIENCE
FRESH MAN COORDINATOR OFFICE
NATURAL SCIENCE STREAM
GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY ASSIGNMENT
COURSE CODE: Psyc 1011
Section 01 Group Number 01
NAME ID No
1. ABEL HAILAY GEBREMEDHIN--------------------------- UGR/5205/16
2. BELAY MILLION HAILE ------------------------------------UGR/9625/16
3. BEMNET EYOB KELEL --------------------------------------UGR/1825/16
4. BEZAWIT ESUBALEW ABEJE -----------------------------UGR/1400/16
5. DEJEN METO SHIBABAW ----------------------------------UGR/8554/16
6. ELDANA MULUGETA ASSEFA ----------------------------UGR/0191/16
7. ELIAS GETACHEW AKALU -------------------------------UGR/7191/16
8. ELLENI DINKU TEBEJE ------------------------------------UGR/0456/16
9. FEVEN SAMUEL DEMISE ----------------------------------UGR/4442/16
10. FIKREAB SEWAYNES SAMUEL --------------------------UGR/6919/16
11. FITA ALEMAYEHU BULBULO ---------------------------UGR/7071/16
12. GEBRE KAHSAY TESFAMICHEAL ---------------------UGR/2154/16
13. HABTAMU DEMS MARU ----------------------------------UGR/1230/16
Submitted to: Inst. Tagio
Submission date: 05/02/2024
Place: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CONTENT PAGE
INTRODUCTION TO LIFE SKILLS ................................................................................................................. 1
Definition of life skill ................................................................................................................................. 1
Components of life skill ............................................................................................................................ 1
Goals of life skills ...................................................................................................................................... 2
INTRA-PERSONAL AND INTERPERSONAL SKILLS .................................................................................. 3
Self-concept................................................................................................................................................ 3
Self-Awareness ........................................................................................................................................... 4
Self-esteem ................................................................................................................................................. 4
Self confidence ........................................................................................................................................... 5
Self-control................................................................................................................................................. 5
References .................................................................................................................................................. 6
INTRODUCTION TO LIFE SKILLS
Life skills play a fundamental role in shaping individuals into well-rounded and adaptable members of
society. These skills encompass a broad range of abilities and personal attributes that are essential for
navigating various life challenges and opportunities. From effective communication and critical thinking
to stress management and decision-making, life skills are the cornerstone of personal and professional
development. By honing these skills, individuals can enhance their emotional well-being, foster positive
relationships, and achieve success in diverse aspects of life. Ultimately, the cultivation of life skills is
pivotal for equipping individuals with the tools and competencies needed to lead fulfilling, purposeful,
and resilient lives.
Definition of life skill
Life skills refer to a set of abilities that enable individuals to effectively navigate the challenges and
demands of daily life. These skills are essential for personal development, social interactions, and overall
well-being. The nature and definition of life skills encompass a range of capabilities that contribute to an
individual's success in various aspects of life.
As defined in the document of World Health Organization life skills are “abilities for adaptive and positive
behaviour that enable individuals to deal effectively with the demands and challenges of everyday life.”
It is also defined by UNICEF as “behavioural changes or behavioural development approach designed to
address a balance of three areas: knowledge attitude and skills”
Components of life skill
Life skills are abilities that help us lead a more competent and peaceful life. These skills are not brought
about at once; rather they are cultivated throughout our lives. Life skills are divided into numerous
components, which we shall look at in detail.
1. Critical thinking- critical thinking is defined by Edward M. Glaser as, "A persistent effort to examine
any belief or supposed form of knowledge in the light of the evidence that supports or refutes it and
the further conclusions to which it tends." Critical thinking helps us recognize problems, find any
biases or assumptions, interpret data, and give accurate judgments on a given topic.
2. Self-confidence- it is trust in one’s capabilities, decisions, or actions. It is being sure that the actions
taken by oneself are correct. Self-confidence increases when satisfactory results are gained through
one’s actions.
1
3. Self-awareness- self-awareness is experiencing ourselves as a separate being from our surroundings,
and evaluating that being as it coexists with its surroundings. It is an introspective look at ourselves,
where we sense our feelings, desires, and beliefs.
4. Self-esteem- is the positive or negative evaluation of one’s self. It is developed through a person’s
experiences and is majorly enforced in childhood.
5. Decision-making- it is the mental processes that occur as one attempts to choose between several
other alternatives. Contrary to critical thinking, where one thinks rationally to arrive at an optimal
solution, decision-making is prone to irrational judgments, sometimes even against one’s interests.
6. Interpersonal relations- these are the relations we have with people of varying levels of trust,
intimacy, and power dynamics. Interpersonal relations include themes of family, friendship, love, or
business.
7. Reflective communication- this is essentially being mindful of our interactions with others. It means
being aware of the way we share our thoughts and beliefs with people.
8. Peer pressure resistance- peer pressure is the influence that comes from affiliating with groups of
similar age, social standing, or profession. While younger people are more susceptible, adults are
also able to experience peer pressure. Developing confidence and awareness of one’s self helps in
resisting peer pressure.
9. Knowing rights and duties- this is simply defined as being aware of the rights and responsibilities
one has. They may be ordained by the law, or be given to someone due to their profession. Knowing
one’s rights is important to not experience an abuse of power by a higher-up or a government official.
10. Problem-solving- a commonly needed skill, it is the ability to overcome obstacles to achieve a goal.
Most activities, ranging from simple household chores to complex problems in education and
business, require varying levels of problem-solving skills.
Goals of life skills
The goal of life skills can be summarized as follows:
1. Personal Development: Developing self-awareness, self-confidence, and a sense of identity, while
fostering a positive mindset and emotional well-being.
2. Social Competence: Enhancing interpersonal and communication skills, empathy, and the ability to
forge and maintain healthy relationships.
3. Coping with Challenges: Equipping individuals with the tools to cope with stress, adversity, and
change, alongside developing resilience and problem-solving abilities.
4. Decision Making and Responsibility: Cultivating the capability to make informed decisions, take
ownership of choices, and adopt a responsible approach to personal actions.
5. Success in Work and Education: Promoting competencies that are essential for success in academic,
professional, and career settings, including critical thinking, time management, and adaptability.
2
6. Health Promotion: Encouraging skills and behaviours that contribute to physical and mental well-
being, including healthy living, self-care, and conflict resolution.
These goals collectively aim to empower individuals to lead fulfilling, self-sufficient, and meaningful
lives by equipping them with the necessary skills to navigate various life challenges and opportunities.
INTRA-PERSONAL AND INTERPERSONAL SKILLS
Intra-personal skills refer to the ability to navigate and understand one's own emotions, thoughts, and
motivations, playing a crucial role in self-awareness and self-regulation. Cultivating intra-personal skills
involves developing a deep understanding of one's strengths and weaknesses, effectively managing stress,
and nurturing a positive self-concept. On the other hand, interpersonal skills pertain to effective
communication, empathy, and collaboration with others, facilitating strong and meaningful relationships.
These skills contribute to successful teamwork, conflict resolution, and the ability to build a supportive
network. Together, both intra-personal and interpersonal skills form a comprehensive toolkit that enables
individuals to navigate personal growth, engage in constructive interactions, and thrive in various social
and professional environments.
Self-concept
The way we view, evaluate, or think about ourselves is known as our self-concept. Our self-concept
provides a response to the question, "Who am I?" It consists of the roles, characteristics, affiliations, and
actions that we value most about ourselves and frequently fall into the following categories:
✓ Physical characteristics (e.g., brown or blue eyes, short or tall,
✓ Social connections (friends, boyfriends, girlfriends, etc.)
✓ Familiar relationships (e.g., mother/father, brother/sister)
✓ Careers (e.g., medical professional, teacher, nurse, attorney, etc.)
✓ Skills and limitations (e.g., funny, shy, smart)
✓ Religion (e.g., Christian, Muslim, Buddhist)
✓ Important characteristics (e.g., truthful/lieutenant, industrious/lazy)
Rather than being innate, self-concept is something that emerges over time from a variety of sources, such
as our cultural heritage, our experiences, and the relationships we have had throughout our lives, as well
as our genetic makeup and input from our social environment, which includes parents, siblings, teachers,
and coaches. Even though our self-concept develops during childhood, it is not permanent and varies
throughout our lives, frequently based on the circumstances and the environment.
3
Self-Awareness
The ability to identify as well as understand our feelings, preferences, values, strengths, and weakness is
referred to as self-awareness. It all comes down to developing a deeper understanding of the reasons
behind our thoughts, emotions, and actions.
Self-awareness requires that:
✓ Identifying our emotions
✓ Linking our feelings, values, and thoughts
✓ Behaving honestly and with integrity
✓ Examining our prejudices and biases
✓ Developing a growth mindset
✓ Experiencing self-efficacy
✓ Developing interests and a sense of feedback
Self-esteem
Literally, self-esteem is rooted in the Latin word aestimare, meaning "to appraise, value, rate, weigh,
estimate." is essentially how we evaluate our own worth emotionally and cognitively. self-esteem is all
about how one perceives oneself. It's the collection of beliefs and feelings one has about oneself, and one's
overall sense of value and self-worth. it is the lens through which one sees and judges one's own abilities,
characteristics, and overall worth as a person.
What are attributes of self-esteem?
There are two attributes of self-esteem these are:
1. Competency-based self-esteem: This aspect of self-esteem is rooted in a person's perception of their
own competence, skills, and abilities. It reflects how capable they feel in various domains of life, such as
work, academics, hobbies, and personal achievements.
Example: a software engineer who consistently produces high-quality code and receives praise from
colleagues and supervisors may have high competency-based self-esteem.
2. Self-esteem based on virtue: This attribute is grounded in a person's evaluation of their moral worth
and adherence to values, ethics, and virtues. It encompasses how they judge their behaviour, integrity, and
alignment with principles such as honesty, kindness, fairness, and compassion.
Example: someone who volunteers regularly at a homeless shelter and treats everyone with respect and
empathy may have high self-esteem based on virtue.
4
Self confidence
The term confidence comes from the Latin word and the meaning is "to trust." Self-confidence refers to
a belief in oneself and one's abilities. It's the assurance and trust in one's own judgment, skills, and
qualities. it is a strong, resilient bridge that connects one's aspirations to one's own actions.
There are various attributes of being self-confident. Here are some of them;
1. Assuredness in Abilities: Self-confident individuals possess a strong belief in their own capabilities
and competencies. They trust their skills, knowledge, and capacity to handle a wide range of tasks
and challenges.
2. Courage to Pursue Challenges: They demonstrate the willingness to step outside their comfort zone,
take on new opportunities, and face unfamiliar situations with a sense of optimism and determination.
3. Resilience in the Face of Setbacks: Self-confident individuals exhibit resilience in adversity. They
are better equipped to bounce back from failures, learn from setbacks, and maintain a positive outlook
as they move forward.
4. Positive Self-Image: Self-confidence is associated with a positive self-image. Individuals with
healthy self-confidence tend to view themselves in a favourable light, appreciating their strengths and
acknowledging their potential for growth and success.
Self-control
"Self-control" refers to a person's ability to manage their emotions, thoughts, and actions, particularly in
challenging situations. It involves resisting temptations, regulating impulses, and maintaining composure
even in the face of distractions or difficulties. This skill allows individuals to make deliberate, reasoned
decisions, often in the pursuit of long-term goals, despite any immediate pressures or desires. Self-control
is essential for maintaining focus, handling stress, and exercising discipline over one's behaviour.
Attributes of self-control
Attributes of self-control, refers to the specific qualities or characteristics that are associated with this
skill. Here are some key attributes of self-control:
1. Impulse Regulation: The ability to manage and resist impulsive reactions or immediate desires,
instead of acting on them without considering the consequences.
2. Emotional Regulation: Managing and controlling one's emotions, particularly in stressful or
emotionally charged situations.
3. Stress Management: Handling stress effectively, maintaining composure, and responding to
stressors in a constructive manner.
4. Focus and Concentration: Maintaining attention and concentration on tasks or goals, despite
potential diversions or disruptions.
5
References
1. Bandura, A. (1997). Self-efficacy: The exercise of control. New York, NY: W H Freeman.
2. Duckworth, A. L., & Gross, J. J. (2014). Self-control and grit: Related but separable determinants of success.
Current Directions in Psychological Science, 23(5), 319-325.
3. Baumeister, R. F., & Vohs, K. D. (2004). Handbook of self-regulation: Research, theory, and applications. New
York, NY: Guilford Press.
4. Tugade, M. M., & Fredrickson, B. L. (2004). Resilient individuals use positive emotions to bounce back from
negative emotional experiences. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 86(2), 320-333.
5. Williams, K. C., & Beretvas, S. N. (2012). Resilience in school-aged children with chronic pain: A mixed-
methods study. Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 37(6), 638-648.
6. World Health Organization. (1999). Skills for health. Retrieved from:
https://www.who.int/mental_health/media/en/685.pdf
7. UNICEF. (n.d.). A decade for life skills. Retrieved from:
hsssttps://www.unicef.org/rosa/sites/unicef.org.rosa/files/inline-
files/Myanmar_A_Decade_for_Life_Skills.pdf
