Social Emotional Intelligence

The ability to recognize and intentionally influence our emotions has a large effect on our happiness. The ability to recognize and steward the feelings of others has a major effect on the well-being of those with whom we interact. These emotional and social competencies vary significantly from person to person. Fortunately, they are learnable skills for children and adults.

Benefits and Costs of School-Based Programs

Greater emotional and social intelligence is associated with improved life outcomes, including improved mental health, academic and career success, better relationships, lower drug use, and increased overall happiness. People who have taken social emotional learning in school use less social, mental health and judicial services, resulting in net savings for society. A major reason for school boards increasingly adding SEL to their curriculum is purely academic. A meta-study has shown SEL programs increase academic achievement by 11 percentage points — an increase of an entire grade!

Cost-Effectiveness

SEL program cost varies considerably. They can be done inexpensively, however, especially if administered at scale. The Disease Control Priorities Project estimates that the per-student cost of these programs is $0.03 per year in India and Ethiopia, and $0.11 per year in Mexico. A 2015 study by Columbia University of six popular commercial SEL programs in the United States found an average financial return on investment of 11 to 1. However, in-house social emotional learning programs delivered at scale can have far better returns because the per-student cost can be dramatically lower.

School-based SEL curriculums for children builds lasting resilience.

Social Emotional Learning for Adults

Adults developing their social and emotional skills can expect the same benefits as children and youth. Learning can be self-guided using books and online material.

Social emotional learning is related to the causes of mental health, bullying prevention and under-socialization. Positive mental-emotional well-being is an important value of Christians. Socialization is also valued and is a central part of church life. SEL programs are often most sought after to prevent bullying and promote pro-social behavior, something all Christians can get behind. Emotional and social well-being, as major determinants of happiness, life success, and character, should be promoted internationally to the maximum extent possible, both within and outside of the church.

The Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning (CASEL) is the largest charity in the United States that researches and promotes SEL. They are primarily funded by foundations and have an annual budget of over $10 million. Room for more funding may therefore be modest. However, development of SEL that is culturally relevant and advocacy for SEL is lacking around the world.