Social-Based Learning and Leadership (SBL): Theory Development and a Qualitative Case Study
Abstract
Social-based learning and leadership (SBL) is an innovative pedagogical approach that
centers on enhancing relationships within the educational system to address 21st-century challenges.
At its core, SBL aims to help teachers transform into social architects who nurture positive social
processes among pupils. Emphasizing prosocial education, SBL lays the foundation for cultivating
pro-environmentalism and sustainable behavior by fostering a sense of care and responsibility toward
others. SBL’s prosocial education program encompasses social and emotional skills, knowledge,
and dispositions to empower pupils to actively engage in and contribute to a more democratic,
reciprocal, just, and sustainable society. This approach underscores the importance of education
in shaping students’ mindsets and life orientations. By nurturing a sense of interconnectedness
and responsibility for the well-being of others, SBL provides a promising avenue to transform
education by building more sustainable educational systems, thus contributing to creating a more
sustainable future. A qualitative case study, which consisted of 18 in-depth interviews and nine
observations, examined the impact of an SBL-based teacher training program at an elementary
school from 2020 to 2023. The results point to changes in teachers’ perceptions of their roles as social
architects and, more specifically, as facilitators of social, emotional, and cognitive processes. The
teachers gained recognition as meaningful adults from their students and transitioned to hold integral
positions as part of a supportive and connected school community, associating with colleagues
and parents. This study thus showcases patterns of socio-organizational communication that can
unfold in a school influenced by the SBL approach. SBL’s emphasis on positive social relationships
and empowering teachers as facilitators of holistic student development thus further reinforces its
potential to transform education for a sustainable and thriving future.
Listening to Understand: The Role of High-Quality Listening on Speakers’ Attitude Depolarization During Disagreements
Guy Itzchakov , Netta Weinstein , Mark Leary , Dvori Saluk, and Moty Amar
Listening
Disagreements can polarize attitudes when they evoke defensiveness from the conversation partners. When
a speaker talks, listeners often think about ways to counterargue. This process often fails to depolarize
attitudes and might even backfire (i.e., the Boomerang effect). However, what happens in disagreements if
one conversation partner genuinely listens to the other’s perspective? We hypothesized that when
conversation partners convey high-quality listening—characterized by attention, understanding, and
positive intentions—speakers will feel more socially comfortable and connected to them (i.e., positivity
resonance) and reflect on their attitudes in a less defensive manner (i.e., have self-insight). We further
hypothesized that this process reduces perceived polarization (perceived attitude change, perceived attitude
similarity with the listener) and actual polarization (reduced attitude extremity). Four experiments
manipulated poor, moderate, and high-quality listening using a video vignette (Study 1) and live interactions
(Studies 2–4). The results consistently supported the research hypotheses and a serial mediation model in
which listening influences depolarization through positivity resonance and nondefensive self-reflection.
Most of the effects of the listening manipulation on perceived and actual depolarization generalized across
indicators of attitude strength, specifically attitude certainty and attitude morality. These findings suggest
that high-quality listening can be a valuable tool for bridging attitudinal and ideological divides.
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Perceived Responsiveness Increases Tolerance of Attitude Ambivalence and Enhances Intentions to Behave in an Open-Minded Manner
Guy Itzchakov, Harry T. Reis
Responsiveness
Can perceived responsiveness, the belief that meaningful others attend to and react supportively to a core defining feature of the self, shape the structure of attitudes? We predicted that perceived responsiveness fosters open-mindedness, which, in turn, allows people to be simultaneously aware of opposing evaluations of an attitude object. We also hypothesized that this process will result in behavior intentions to consider multiple perspectives about the topic. Furthermore, we predicted that perceived responsiveness will enable people to tolerate accessible opposing evaluations without feeling discomfort. We found consistent support for our hypotheses in four laboratory experiments (Studies 1–3, 5) and a diary study (Study 4). Moreover, we found that perceived responsiveness reduces the perception that one’s initial attitude is correct and valid. These findings indicate that attitude structure and behavior intentions can be changed by an interpersonal variable, unrelated to the attitude itself.
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