Concept 1 · free preview
WHO's 10 core life skills
Understand
WHO defines life skills as abilities for adaptive and positive behaviour that enable individuals to deal effectively with the demands and challenges of everyday life. They are psychosocial skills, not the skills of one job or technology.
| Pair | Skill 1 | Skill 2 |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Self and others | Self-awareness | Empathy |
| 2. Thinking | Critical thinking | Creative thinking |
| 3. Choosing | Decision making | Problem solving |
| 4. Relating to people | Effective communication | Interpersonal relationships |
| 5. Managing inside | Coping with stress | Coping with emotions |
Remember
5 pairs = 10 skills. Each pair is complementary: know yourself ↔ understand others, judge ↔ create, choose ↔ solve, speak ↔ relate, stress ↔ emotions.
Example
Q: “Which is NOT a WHO core life skill — empathy, decision making, typing speed, coping with stress?” Answer: typing speed — a technical skill, not a psychosocial one.
Common mistake
Counting technical or job skills (computer use, typing, driving) as life skills. WHO's list has only the 10 psychosocial skills above.
Check yourself
How many core life skills does WHO list?