Selected components of social competence in relation to other personality characteristics

In this study we understood social competence as a  sum of predictors for adequate social interactions and communication. In our research we divided these predictors in two groups. In the first  group were the intrapersonal components - connected with the personality as such, in the concrete social well-being (satisfaction), adaptability and flexibility, coping and hostility. In the second group were the  interpersonal components - connected with interpersonal relationships  and social situations. It was active behaviour in social situations,  social exhibitionism and social frustration.

In the first part of this study we introduce and  discuss some knowledge and information about social competence as a  concept. In the next part we present the results of our research. Our  aim was to find some relations between social competence and the basic  traits of personality according to Big five model (it means neuroticism, extraversion, openness to experience, agreeableness and  conscientiousness).

We used the NEO - five factor personality  inventory and the  inventory that we created especially for our  research. The sample contained 91 university students. The mean age was  21,6 year. We used the Pearson´s coefficient of correlation to get the  results. According to our results, the most important predictors of  social competence were extraversion and low neuroticism. Also some other interesting information were obvious: no significant relation between  neuroticism and social frustration, significant relation between  extraversion and social well-being, significant relation between  extraversion and adaptability + flexibility and significant relation  between conscientiousness and adaptability + flexibility.