The (un)learning of social functions and its significance for mental health

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Aleya Flechsenhar - , Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (Author)
  • Philipp Kanske - , Institute of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy (Author)
  • Sören Krach - , University of Lübeck (Author)
  • Christoph Korn - , Heidelberg University  (Author)
  • Katja Bertsch - , Heidelberg University , Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Hospital of the Ludwig-Maximilians-University (LMU) Munich (Author)

Abstract

Social interactions are dynamic, context-dependent, and reciprocal events that influence prospective strategies and require constant practice and adaptation. This complexity of social interactions creates several research challenges. We propose a new framework encouraging future research to investigate not only individual differences in capacities relevant for social functioning and their underlying mechanisms, but also the flexibility to adapt or update one's social abilities. We suggest three key capacities relevant for social functioning: (1) social perception, (2) sharing emotions or empathizing, and (3) mentalizing. We elaborate on how adaptations in these capacities may be investigated on behavioral and neural levels. Research on these flexible adaptations of one's social behavior is needed to specify how humans actually "learn to be social". Learning to adapt implies plasticity of the relevant brain networks involved in the underlying social processes, indicating that social abilities are malleable for different contexts. To quantify such measures, researchers need to find ways to investigate learning through dynamic changes in adaptable social paradigms and examine several factors influencing social functioning within the three aformentioned social key capacities. This framework furthers insight concerning individual differences, provides a holistic approach to social functioning, and may improve interventions for ameliorating social abilities in patients.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article number102204
Number of pages17
JournalClinical psychology review
Volume98
Early online date28 Sept 2022
Publication statusPublished - Dec 2022
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

Scopus 85139594694
Mendeley c69a81a7-c26d-3c14-b7f5-09f363e02cbe

Keywords

Sustainable Development Goals

Keywords

  • Adapting social skills, Social cognition, Social functioning