What skills are included in the concept of "executive functioning"?

The concept of "executive functioning" encompasses a range of cognitive processes that are crucial for managing oneself and resources effectively in the pursuit of goals. Planning, organization, and impulse control are integral components of executive functioning.

Planning involves the ability to formulate strategies to reach a goal, while organization refers to the capacity to arrange thoughts and actions in a coherent structure. Impulse control is the ability to resist immediate temptations or distractions in favor of long-term objectives. These skills enable individuals to make decisions, focus attention, and manage time efficiently, which are essential for success in both academic and everyday life.

In contrast, the other skills mentioned, such as social skills, reading comprehension, writing, speaking, and listening, while important in their own right, do not specifically fall under the umbrella of executive functioning. Social skills, for example, pertain more to interpersonal relationships rather than cognitive processes that guide behavior and decision-making. Similarly, the skills related to reading and writing focus on literacy rather than the broader organizational and self-management abilities characteristic of executive functioning.