Competence and Its Model Building: A Theoretical Analysis

doi:10.16382/j.cnki.1000-5560.2022.11.004

Abstract

Abstract:

Competence can be broadly defined as the capacity of a human being interacting with environment, with the aim to maintain and enhance the survival and development of humankind at both individual and population level. Inherently implied in the concept of competence are such characteristics as agency-driven, socially-constructed and culturally-laden. Therefore, a theory of competence should explicate from an ecological perspective the nature of various competences as well as their epigenetic and developmental mechanism within the dynamically bilateral relationship of co-existence and co-ordination between an individual and environment. Competence development is an organic process, a process of continuous becoming and constructing throughout the life-span of an individual, during which various elements and their relationships are involved and integrated across a variety of layers including those of physical-biological, social-cultural as well as psychological-behavioral. In particular, collective practice, individual agency and social transaction constitute a three-dimensional dialectic system for human competence development, within which the culture plays a mediated role in that it can be considered as tools in the most general sense. Under this theoretical perspective, three approaches to competence model building can be described as demand-functional approach, culture-psychological configuration approach and hologram-layer approach, respectively. These approaches are complementary with each other and provide a more comprehensive and systematic understanding of the nature, structure and development of human competences.

Key words: competence, agency, social-cultural practice, self, competence model

Xiangdong Yang. Competence and Its Model Building: A Theoretical Analysis[J]. Journal of East China Normal University(Educational Sciences), 2022, 40(11): 41-57.

Figures/Tables 5

美德（virtue）	良好品格（character strength）	美德（virtue）	良好品格（character strength）
智慧和知识（wisdom and knowledge）	好奇心（curiosity）?兴趣（interest）?寻求新异（novelty-seeking）?接纳新经验（openness to experience）	正义（justice）	公民精神（citizenship）?社会责任（social responsibility）?忠诚（loyalty）?团队精神（teamwork）
	喜欢学习（love of learning）		公平公正（fairness）
	思想开放（open-mindedness）?判断力（judgement）?批判性思维（critical thinking）		领导力（leadership）
	创造性（creativity）?创新性（originality）?独创力（ingenuity）	自制（temperance）	自我调节（self-regulation）?自我控制（self-control）
	洞察力（perspective）?智慧（wisdom）		谨慎（prudence）
勇气（courage）	勇敢（bravery）?英勇（valor）		谦逊（humility）?谦虚（modesty）
	坚韧（persistence）?毅力（perseverance）?勤勉（industriousness）		宽恕（forgiveness）?仁慈（mercy）
	正直（integrity）?真诚（authenticity）?诚实（honesty）	精神卓越（transcendence）	对美和卓越的欣赏（appreciation of beauty and excellence）?敬畏心（awe）?好奇（wonder）?升华（elevation）
	活力（vitality）?热情（zest）?热心（enthusiasm）?热忱（vigor）?精力充沛（energy）		感恩（gratitude）
仁爱（humanity）	爱与被爱（love）		希望（hope）?乐观（optimism）?展望未来（future-mindedness, future orientation）
	善良（kindness）?慷慨（generosity）?滋养（nurturance）?关爱（care）?同情（compassion）?大爱（altruistic love）?体贴（niceness）		幽默（humor）?举重若轻（playfulness）
	社会智慧（social intelligence） ?情感智慧（emotional intelligence）?个人智慧（personal intelligence）		灵性（spirituality）?宗教性（religiousness）?信仰（faith）?使命感（purpose）

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维度	具体素养
能互动地使用工具	互动地使用语言、符号和文本
	互动地使用知识和信息
	互动地使用技术
能与异质社会群体互动	与他人建立良好关系
	团队合作
	处理和解决冲突
能自主行动	在复杂的大环境中行动
	设计和实施人生规划和个人计划
	维护和争取权利、利益、条件和需求

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