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Emotional Intelligence Since I was recently misunderstood on this site using some terminology that is common to those who are familiar with the concept of Emotional Intelligence, I thought a brief summary might be helpful for reference. Of course, everyone doesn't agree on definitions, but I thought this was a decent summary. What is Emotional Intelligence? Emotional intelligence refers to the ability to perceive, control and evaluate emotions. Some researchers suggest that emotional intelligence can be learned and strengthened, while others claim it is an inborn characteristic. Since 1990, Peter Salovey and John D. Mayer have been the leading researchers on emotional intelligence. In their influential article "Emotional Intelligence," they defined emotional intelligence as, "the subset of social intelligence that involves the ability to monitor one's own and others' feelings and emotions, to discriminate among them and to use this information to guide one's thinking and actions" (1990). The Four Branches of Emotional Intelligence Salovey and Mayer proposed a model that identified four different factors of emotional intelligence: the perception of emotion, the ability reason using emotions, the ability to understand emotion and the ability to manage emotions. Perceiving Emotions: The first step in understanding emotions is to accurately perceive them. In many cases, this might involve understanding nonverbal signals such as body language and facial expressions. Reasoning With Emotions: The next step involves using emotions to promote thinking and cognitive activity. Emotions help prioritize what we pay attention and react to; we respond emotionally to things that garner our attention. Understanding Emotions: The emotions that we perceive can carry a wide variety of meanings. If someone is expressing angry emotions, the observer must interpret the cause of their anger and what it might mean. For example, if your boss is acting angry, it might mean that he is dissatisfied with your work; or it could be because he got a speeding ticket on his way to work that morning or that he's been fighting with his wife. Managing Emotions: The ability to manage emotions effectively is a key part of emotional intelligence. Regulating emotions, responding appropriately and responding to the emotions of others are all important aspect of emotional management. According to Salovey and Mayer, the four branches of their model are, "arranged from more basic psychological processes to higher, more psychologically integrated processes. For example, the lowest level branch concerns the (relatively) simple abilities of perceiving and expressing emotion. In contrast, the highest level branch concerns the conscious, reflective regulation of emotion" (1997). A Brief History of Emotional Intelligence 1930s – Edward Thorndike describes the concept of "social intelligence" as the ability to get along with other people. 1940s – David Wechsler suggests that affective components of intelligence may be essential to success in life. 1950s – Humanistic psychologists such as Abraham Maslow describe how people can build emotional strength. 1975 - Howard Gardner publishes The Shattered Mind, which introduces the concept of multiple intelligences. 1985 - Wayne Payne introduces the term emotional intelligence in his doctoral dissertation entitled "A study of emotion: developing emotional intelligence; self-integration; relating to fear, pain and desire (theory, structure of reality, problem-solving, contraction/expansion, tuning in/coming out/letting go)." 1987 – In an article published in Mensa Magazine, Keith Beasley uses the term "emotional quotient." It has been suggested that this is the first published use of the term, although Reuven Bar-On claims to have used the term in an unpublished version of his graduate thesis. 1990 – Psychologists Peter Salovey and John Mayer publish their landmark article, "Emotional Intelligence," in the journal Imagination, Cognition, and Personality. 1995 - The concept of emotional intelligence is popularized after publication of psychologist and New York Times science writer Daniel Goleman’s book Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ. This article is by Kendra Cherry ..... Based on a true story. |
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2/6/2013 7:45 pm |
It's taken me years to realize the import of EQ. Unfortunately, I have paid the price. Like most afflictions, the realization is a big step towards rehabilitation. Thanks for posting (and unblocking me). I will try to play nice. Have a great Spring enjoying the beauty of the island with your grandaughter and loved ones. 
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2/6/2013 9:09 pm |
Good information. Emotional intelligence, or I should say the lack of it, is a huge barrier to success in many arenas of life. Spiritwoman ^i^
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Very good blog....I always perceived it as emotional maturity which came with trial & error by some...sometimes maturity has nothing to do with it I guess. Some believe in destiny, some believe in fate. I believe that happiness is something we create
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