THEORETICAL GROUNDS AND METHODOLOGICAL FRAMEWORK FOR RESEARCH ON THE NATURE OF SOCIAL INTELLIGENCE

Discussed is the concept of social intelligence as strictly coordinated constellation of mental abilities, which promote regulation of the human social cognition and his/her behavior in socium, and are developed in the process of socialization. The author describes how it is being construed in the national and international psychological community. Social intelligence is construed as a pool or constellation of abilities, therefore, it is inseparably linked with human activities. The object of fulfillment for this constellation of abilities is establishment of relations between individuals, so, it is obvious that social intelligence is closely connected with personal properties and has features characteristic of a personality structure. Studies did not reveal any definite nature of its relations with academic intelligence. Analyzed are ways and means for social intelligence measuring.