[Neurons] 2024 Neurons #2 WHAT IS EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE?

[Michael Hall]

From: L. Michael Hall

2024 Neurons #2

January, 9, 2024

Emotional Intelligence Series #2

 

WHAT IS

EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE?

 

If I.Q. refers to intelligence generally, then it refers to your ability to
think, reason, figure things out, solve problems, create solutions, etc.
Given that, what does it mean when we put the word emotion in front of it
and create this new idea of emotional intelligence?  Peter Salovey and John
Mayer define emotional intelligence in this way: 

"The ability to monitor one's own and other people's emotions, to
discriminate between different emotions and label them appropriately, and to
use emotional information to guide thinking and behavior." 

 

Their definition that we have four abilities within the subjective
experience of emotional intelligence, namely, perceiving, using,
understanding, and managing emotions.  Here are some other common
definitions.  

"Emotional intelligence is the ability to understand, use, and manage your
own emotions, and to understand and respond to the emotions of others.  It
is a critical skill for success in all areas of life, including personal
relationships, work, and school."

"Emotional intelligence is defined as the ability to perceive, use,
understand, manage, and handle emotions.  People with high emotional
intelligence can recognize their own emotions and those of others, use
emotional information to guide thinking and behavior, discern between
different feelings and label them appropriately, and adjust emotions to
adapt to environments (Oxford Dictionary).

 

The phrase "emotional intelligence" first appeared in 1964 by Beldoch M,
Davitz Jr. in The Communication of Emotional Meaning.  But it did not gain
popularity until the 1995 best selling book, Emotional Intelligence by
science journalist Daniel Goleman.  From that a number of authors developed
the idea of Emotional Quotient and developed various ways by which to
measure emotional intelligence.  One of the first to use "emotional
quotient" was Keith Beasley (1987).  And yet, going back even further,
Abraham Maslow introduced the concept of emotional strength in the 1950s in
his work on self-actualization.

 

In 1983, Howard Gardner's Frames of Mind: The Theory of Multiple
Intelligfences introduced the idea that traditional types of intelligence
fail to fully explain cognitive abilities.  He introduced the idea of
multiple intelligences which included both interpersonal intelligence (the
capacity to understand the intentions, motivations and desires of other
people) and intra-personal intelligence (the capacity to understand oneself,
to appreciate one's feelings, fears and motivations).

 

It was Daniel Goleman who outlined five main emotional intelligence
constructs:

           Self-awareness.  This refers to the ability to know your
emotions, strengths, weaknesses, drives, values, and goals and recognize
their impact on others while using certain inner feelings to guide decisions
Awareness and understanding of emotions involves comprehending emotion
language and appreciating relationships between emotions.  This may involve
being sensitive to slight variations between emotions.  It may involve
recognizing and describing how emotions evolve over time. 

           Self-regulation.  This refers to controlling or redirecting
disruptive emotions and impulses as well as adapting to changing
circumstances.  By regulating your emotions, you can then use them to
facilitate such cognitive activities as thinking and problem-solving. The
emotionally intelligent person can capitalize fully upon his or her changing
moods in order to best fit the task at hand.  In regulating emotions, you
develop the ability to them turn up or down, to amplify or dampen them.

           Social skill.  This refers to using your emotions as you manage
your relationships for getting along with others.  By regulating your
emotions, you can more effectively relate to others and to their emotions.
The emotionally intelligent person can harness emotions, even negative ones,
and manage them to achieve intended goals.

           Empathy.  This refers to considering other people's feelings
especially when connecting to people, when making decisions, when seeking to
understand another person, etc. 

           Motivation.  This refers to using your emotions to value, to
identify what's important, to feel moved, to feel motivated, etc. 

 

What then is emotional intelligence?  It is recognizing, understanding, and
managing your emotions in an intelligent way.  In a word that means that you
have your emotions rather than your emotions having (and controlling) you.
It means that you know how you produce your emotions, the numerous
contributing factors, and how to regulate them so that you are
self-determining.  Obviously, emotional intelligence is critical for your
health and well-being, for your inner peace and joy and love, and for your
relationships.

 

 

 

L. Michael Hall, Ph.D.

738 Beaver Lodge

Grand Jct., CO. 81505 USA

(970) 523-7877

meta at acsol.net

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

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