Social and Emotional Learning: Integrating a Catholic Christian Framework

Abstract

This article develops an enriched framework for social and emotional learning that integrates the philosophy and theology of Saint Thomas Aquinas and current findings of psychological, developmental, and educational theories and empirical studies. The framework demonstrates that there are three key areas of social and emotional learning: (1) self-reflection, (2) virtue development, and (3) relational development. Furthermore, it explains that in order to achieve a fully integrated vision, these areas need to include biophysical, psychosocial, and spiritual elements of cognition, emotion, and social development. This framework has implications for education and psychotherapy. The article argues that a Thomistic-inspired framework has significant advantages for understanding social and emotional development because of its holistic treatment of the human person. Formation of the student is approached through a distinct Catholic Christian focus on the dignity of the human person as one made in the image and likeness of God and called to share in eternal beatitude with God. This framework of social and emotional development integrates science and philosophy and offers a Catholic Christian perspective on the need for divine revelation and Christ's gift of grace.