Emotional Intelligence PDF

SH1687 Emotional Intelligence Emotional Intelligence has been popularized by Daniel Goleman in 1995 in his book Emotional Intelligence. The concept of emotional intelligence was initially developed by Peter Salovey and John Mayer (1990) who defined it as the ability to perceive and express emotion...

SH1687 Emotional Intelligence Emotional Intelligence has been popularized by Daniel Goleman in 1995 in his book Emotional Intelligence. The concept of emotional intelligence was initially developed by Peter Salovey and John Mayer (1990) who defined it as the ability to perceive and express emotions accurately and adaptively (such as taking the perspective of others), to understand emotion and emotional knowledge (such as understanding the roles that emotions play in friendship and marriage), to use feelings to facilitate thought (such as being in a positive mood, which is linked to creative thinking) and to manage emotions in oneself and others (such as being able to control one's anger). The Mayer-Salovey-Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test (MSCEIT) was developed to measure the four aspects of emotional intelligence: perceiving emotions, understanding emotions, facilitating thought, and managing emotions (Mayer Salovey & Caruso 2002). (J. Santrock, Psychology, 7th edition, 2005) Although the increased cognitive abilities and awareness of adolescence prepare them to cope more effectively with stress and emotional fluctuations, many adolescents do not effectively manage their emotions. As a result, they may become prone to depression, anger, and poor emotional regulation which in turn may trigger problems such as academic difficulties, drug abuse, juvenile delinquency, or eating disorders. The emotional competencies that are important for adolescents to develop include the following (Saarni, 1999): 1. Being aware that the expression of emotions plays a major role in relationships. Example: knowing that expressing anger toward a friend on a regular basis can harm friendship. 2. Adaptively cope with negative emotions by using, self-regulatory strategies that reduce the intensity and duration of such emotional states. Example: reducing anger by walking away from a negative situation and engaging in an activity that takes one's mind off it. 3. Understanding that inner emotional states do not have to correspond to outer expressions. As an adolescent become more mature, they begin to understand how their emotionally expressive behavior may impact others and take that understanding into account in the way they present themselves. Example: recognizing that one can feel anger yet manage one's emotional expression so that it appears to be neutral. 4. Being aware of one's emotional states without becoming overwhelmed by them. Example: differentiating between sadness and anxiousness and focusing on coping rather than becoming overwhelmed by these feelings. 5. Being able to discern others' emotions. Example: perceiving that another person is sad than afraid. Why is emotional intelligence (EQ) so important? According to HELPGUIDE.ORG by Jeanne Segal, Ph.D., and Melinda Smith, M.A. published in December 2015, it's not the smartest people that are the most successful or the most fulfilled in life. Intellectual intelligence (IQ) isn't enough on its own to be successful in life IQ can help to get into college, but the EQ will help manage the stress and emotions when taking final exams. According to them, emotional intelligence affects: 1. Performance at work - emotional intelligence can help navigate the social complexities of the workplace, lead and motivate others, and excel in a career. In fact, when it comes to gauging job candidates, many companies now view emotional intelligence as being as important as technical ability and require EQ testing before hiring. 2. Physical health - if someone is unable to manage stress levels, it can lead to serious health problems. Uncontrolled stress can raise blood pressure, suppress the immune system, increase the risk of heart attack and stroke, contribute to infertility, and speed up the aging process. The first step to improving emotional intelligence is to learn how to relieve stress. 3. Mental health - uncontrolled stress can also impact mental health, making the person vulnerable to anxiety and depression. If the individual is unable to understand and manage emotions, she'll be open to mood swings, while an inability to form strong relationships can leave the feeling of 08 Handout 1 *Property of STI Page 1 of 2  SH1687 loneliness and isolation. 4. Relationships - by understanding emotions and how to control them, the individual is better able to express how she feels and understand how others are feeling. This allows the person to communicate more effectively and forge stronger relationships, both at work and in personal life. How to Raise Your Emotional Intelligence? All information to the brain comes through our senses, and when this information is overwhelmingly stressful or emotional, instinct will take over and our ability to act will be limited to the flight, fight, or freeze response. Therefore, to have access to a wide range of choices and the ability to make good decisions, we need to be able to bring our emotions into balance at will. By learning to stay connected to the emotional part of your brain, as well as the rational, you'll not only expand your range of choices when it comes to responding to a new event, but you'll also factor emotional memory into your decision-making process. This will help prevent you from continually repeating earlier mistakes. To improve your emotional intelligence and your decision-making abilities, you need to understand and manage your emotions. This is accomplished by developing key skills for controlling and managing overwhelming stress and becoming an effective communicator. Reference: Bernabe G. (2016). Personal development for senior high school. Manila, Philippines: Mindshapers Co., Inc. 08 Handout 1 *Property of STI Page 2 of 2