Emotional intelligence (EI is a concept that)
Emotional intelligence (EI) refers to a person’s ability to understand and manage their emotions as well as recognize the feelings of others. Research shows it is a useful tool for navigating work life, relationships, education, and mental and physical well-being. Show
Behavioral experts commonly refer to the five components of EI, which involve behaviors such as a person’s self-awareness and empathy for other people. This article explores EI, its components, why it is important, and examples. What is emotional intelligence?Share on PinterestLauren Lee/Stocksy EI refers to a person’s ability to recognize, understand, and manage their emotions as well as their ability to understand others’ emotions. Many people think of intelligence in terms of cognitive abilities, such as those that make up their IQ. These include the ability to:
Since the 1990s, though, psychologists have increasingly noted the importance of EI. Research from 2015 suggests it may be more important than IQ for predicting a person’s efficiency at work. While some aspects of EI may be genetic and closely related to personality type, research from 2018 also shows that a person can learn and improve upon their levels of EI with training and by making small changes to their daily routines. Components of emotional intelligencePsychologist Daniel Goleman created one of the most popular models of EI. It breaks down EI into five key components, according to a2018 research review. 1. Self-awarenessA key part of EI is a level of understanding and self-awareness of a person’s own emotions. An individual with high EI is not only aware of what emotions they are feeling but can put words to their feelings. They can also understand the consequences of their emotions and how they may change and shift over time. 2. Self-regulationOnce a person has achieved the first component, they can move on to self-regulation. An individual with a good awareness of their own emotions can better manage the emotions and behaviors that come along with them. This may involve noticing a difficult emotion and slowing down or resisting any impulsive action that may follow. Learn more about emotional self-regulation here. 3. MotivationMotivation is the process that stimulates and directs someone toward achieving their goals. It is a key part of EI, 2016 research suggests. Motivation allows a person to remain true to their goals and persevere, even during challenging times. A person with low motivation may be discouraged easily by any obstacle and give up. A person with high motivation realizes that the reward of their personal goals is worth the time and effort spent getting there, even when they face obstacles. Learn more about techniques to say motivated here. 4. EmpathyEmpathy refers to how tuned to the emotions of others a person is. Someone with high EI can accurately identify which emotions another person is feeling and can tell the difference between genuine and false emotions. A person may do this by noticing certain facial expressions or changes in another person’s voice or body language. Learn more about empathy here. 5. Social skillsA person with higher levels of EI may be better at interacting appropriately with others than a person with low levels of EI. EI can help a person build relationships, communicate with others, and maintain friendships. Why emotional intelligence is importantEI can help a person work with and supervise other people. It can also help them to cope with and be more resilient to stresses that they might face in life. Research has shown that EI can be important in many aspects of a person’s life. A 2019 study, for example, states that increased EI can improve a person’s:
Another2019 studyfound that EI training led to improvements in:
Research from 2019 has shown that students with higher levels of EI are generally more happy, sociable, and self-confident, as well as better at handling stress. According to a 2020 research review, studies have also shown that EI can help students develop social relationships in school, which can positively impact their academic performance. Research has suggested that people with lower levels of EI are less able to regulate their emotions and more likely to engage in mood regulation strategies that negatively affect their overall health. A 2018 study, for example, shows that people with low levels of EI may be more likely to use smoking and alcohol as coping strategies and may be more at risk of self-harming behaviors and eating disorders. Learn more about how to show emotional support to someone here. ExamplesBelow is an example of how a person may display low or high EI when faced with a difficult situation. A manager finds out that a time-sensitive email has not been sent to one of their largest clients. The manager may feel anger toward their team or fear losing their job. A person with low EI may lash out in anger at their team or attempt to deny the problem. As a result, the team may become discouraged and avoid taking responsibility. A person with high EI would be aware of their own feelings but realize that acting upon them may not bring them closer to achieving their goals. Instead, they may encourage a calm, supportive atmosphere to motivate the team and find resolutions to the problem. With empathy and strong social skills, the manager with high EI would also know the correct time to ask questions and take disciplinary action toward those responsible for the mistake, making sure that these conversations do not disrupt the team. Learn more about low EI and how to deal with it here. How to improve emotional intelligencePeople can improve their EI in several ways. A 2018 study, for example, found that participants were able to improve their EI over a period of 4 months by practicing transcendental meditation. The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) states that there are ten behaviors people can practice to help build their EI. These are:
TakeawayEI can help a person recognize and navigate their own, as well as others’, emotions. Higher levels of EI can positively influence a person’s emotional and physical health as well as make them more resilient to stress. What is emotional intelligence concept?What is emotional intelligence or EQ? Emotional intelligence (otherwise known as emotional quotient or EQ) is the ability to understand, use, and manage your own emotions in positive ways to relieve stress, communicate effectively, empathize with others, overcome challenges and defuse conflict.
What is emotional intelligence EI quizlet?Emotional intelligence (Thorough Definition) The ability to accurately perceive your own and others' emotions; to understand the signals that emotions send about relationships; and to manage your own and others' emotions.
When was the concept of emotional intelligence?The term emotional intelligence was created by two researchers, Peter Salavoy and John Mayer in their article “Emotional Intelligence” in the journal Imagination, Cognition, and Personality in 1990.
What are the main components of emotional intelligence EI?Self-awareness. Self-awareness is about recognising and understanding your emotions – what you're feeling and why – as well as appreciating how they affect those around you. ... . Self-regulation. ... . Motivation. ... . Empathy. ... . Social skills.. |