CHARACTERIZATION OF THE FIELD OF SOCIAL SKILLS AND RESEARCH TRENDS FOR A CHANGING WORLD

Abstract

This essay aims to characterize the field of Social Skills in its historical and epistemological aspects and to discuss possible research trends in the area, in view of the transformations of the 21st century and the COVID-19 pandemic. To characterize the field, a brief contextualization was made about the development of the area, in relation to its articulations with the other fields of knowledge. A review of the main concepts of the field was carried out, highlighting their updates and their potential for analyzing current themes. Finally, trends in field studies were listed due to the changes that have taken place in the 21st century. As a result, it was demonstrated how historically and epistemologically this area of ​​knowledge is related to other types of knowledge and has, since its beginnings, a vast potential range of study of varied themes that involve interpersonal relationships. Trends in field studies arising from the expansion of globalization processes and technological modernization from the 21st century were identified and listed. It is concluded that the changes observed in the contemporary world and in interpersonal relationships are configured as research possibilities to be explored by the field, which can contribute to the understanding of the reflexes of global transformations on different aspects of human sociability.