psychology

Emotional Intelligence: What is it? What is it for? I.Randi Features and Models

Generality

Emotional intelligence is defined as the ability of an individual to recognize, to distinguish, to label and to manage one's own and others' emotions .

The concept of emotional intelligence (IE or EI, from the English Emotional Intelligence ) is relatively recent; in fact, the first definition dates back to 1990 and was proposed by the American psychologists Peter Salovey and John D. Mayer. Despite this, the concept of emotional intelligence began to take hold and become "famous" only between 1995 and 1996, following the publication of the book " Emotional Intelligence: What it is and why it can make us happy " by the author and scientific journalist Daniel Goleman.

Curiosity

Following the publication of Goleman's book, the concept of emotional intelligence took shape and became the object of study both in the psychological field and in the field of business organization. As you will see in the article, in fact, according to Goleman's concept, emotional intelligence is a fundamental aspect for success in the field of business and leadership.

The transformations undergone by the concept of emotional intelligence over the years have led to the creation by psychologists and scholars of the sector of different theoretical IE models, corresponding to equally different definitions and characteristics. In the course of the article we will take into consideration the models proposed first by Salovey and Mayer and then by Goleman, highlighting their characteristics and peculiarities.

What is that

What is Emotional Intelligence?

Emotional intelligence can be described as an individual's ability to recognize, discriminate and identify, to label appropriately and, consequently, to manage their own and others' emotions in order to achieve certain goals .

In truth, the definition of emotional intelligence has undergone several changes over the years and its meaning can take on different nuances depending on the type of conception that one has of this ability to identify and manage one's own and others' emotions.

Emotional intelligence is also known as the emotional quotient (QE, or EQ from the English Emotional Quotient ), quotient of emotional intelligence (QIE) and emotional leadership (LE).

Models

Theoretical Models of Emotional Intelligence

As mentioned, the conception of emotional intelligence is not univocal, but the proposed theoretical models that describe its meaning and characteristics are different. Below are two of the main models of emotional intelligence currently in existence: that of Salovey and Mayer and that of Goleman.

Emotional Intelligence according to Salovey and Mayer

The conception of emotional intelligence initially developed by the psychologists Salovey and Mayer defined it as the ability to perceive, integrate and regulate emotions to facilitate thought and promote personal growth .

However, after conducting various researches, this definition was modified, including the ability to accurately perceive emotions, to generate them and to understand them so as to regulate them reflexively in order to promote one's own emotional and intellectual growth .

More in detail, according to the Salovey and Mayer model, emotional intelligence includes four different abilities:

  • Perception of emotions : the perception of emotions is a fundamental aspect of emotional intelligence. In this case, it is understood as the ability to detect and decipher not only one's own emotions, but also those of others, on people's faces, in images (for example, in photographs), in the timbre of the voice, etc.
  • Use of emotions : it is understood as the ability of the individual to exploit emotions and apply them to activities such as thinking and solving problems.
  • Understanding of emotions : it is the ability to understand emotions and to understand their variations and evolution over time.
  • Managing emotions : it consists in the ability to regulate one's own and others' emotions, both positive and negative, managing them in such a way as to achieve the set goals.

According to Salovey and Mayer the above abilities are closely related to each other.

How is Emotional intelligence measured according to Salovey and Mayer?

The degree of emotional intelligence according to the Salovey and Mayer model is measured by the Mayer-Salovey-Caruso emotional intelligence test (also known by the acronym of MSEIT ). Without going into details, we will limit ourselves to saying that this test tests the individual on the above mentioned abilities that characterize emotional intelligence. Unlike the classic IQ tests (IQ), there are no objectively correct answers in the MSEIT; this feature, however, has largely contributed to questioning the reliability of the test itself.

Emotional Intelligence according to Goleman

According to the model introduced by Goleman, emotional intelligence includes a series of skills and competences that guide the individual especially in the field of leadership .

In detail, according to Goleman, emotional intelligence is characterized by:

  • Self-awareness : it is understood as the ability to recognize one's own emotions and strengths, as well as one's own limits and weaknesses; it also includes the ability to sense how these personal characteristics are able to influence others.
  • Self-regulation : describes the ability to manage one's strengths, emotions and weaknesses, adapting them to the different situations that may arise, in order to achieve goals and objectives.
  • Social skills : consists of the ability to manage relationships with people in order to "direct" them towards the achievement of a specific goal.
  • Motivation : it is the ability to recognize negative thoughts and turn them into positive thoughts that are able to motivate themselves and others.
  • Empathy : is the ability to fully understand and even perceive and feel the mood of other people.

According to Goleman, each of the aforementioned characteristics belong to different emotional skills, understood as the practical skills of the individual necessary for the establishment of positive relationships with others. These skills, however, are not innate, but can be learned, developed and improved in order to achieve important work and leadership performances. According to Goleman, each individual is endowed with "general" emotional intelligence from birth and the degree of such intelligence determines the probability - more or less high - of learning and taking advantage of the aforementioned emotional skills at a later date.

Goleman, therefore, makes emotional intelligence a fundamental tool in the field of work success .

How is Emotional intelligence measured according to Goleman?

The emotional intelligence according to Goleman can be measured through the Emotional Competency Inventory ( ECI ) and the Emotional and Social Competency Inventory ( ESCI ), these are tools developed by Goleman himself and Richard Eleftherios Boyatzis, professor of organizational behavior, psychology and cognitive sciences.

Furthermore, it is also possible to carry out a measurement of emotional intelligence through the Emotional Intelligence Appraisal. This is a type of self - assessment developed by Travis Bradberry and Jean Greaves.

Effects

Effects and Benefits of Emotional Intelligence on Daily Life

Regardless of the type of model adopted to describe its traits and characteristics, the presence of a high degree of emotional intelligence - understood as the ability to perceive, recognize and correctly manage one's own and others' emotions - should theoretically bring beneficial effects in all aspects of the daily life of the individual.

In detail, those with emotional intelligence should:

  • Have better social relationships ;
  • Having better family and emotional relationships ;
  • Be perceived by others in a more positive way compared to individuals with poor emotional intelligence;
  • Being able to establish better relationships in the workplace with respect to those who do not have or have a low level of emotional intelligence;
  • Having a greater chance of understanding yourself and making correct decisions based on both logic and emotions ;
  • Have a better academic performance ;
  • Enjoy greater psychological well-being . In fact, those with a good level of emotional intelligence seem to have a greater chance of having satisfaction from their lives, of having a high level of self-esteem and a lower level of insecurity. Furthermore, the presence of emotional intelligence seems to be useful in preventing wrong choices and behaviors, also inherent to one's own health (for example, abuse of psychoactive substances and dependencies on both drugs and alcohol).

Curiosity

An interesting study conducted in 2010 analyzed the correlation between emotional intelligence and the degree of alcohol and / or drug addiction. From this study it emerged that the scores obtained by the tests for the evaluation of emotional intelligence have increased as the degree of dependence on these substances has decreased.

Similar argument for another study conducted in 2012 that analyzed the relationship between emotional intelligence, self-esteem and marijuana addiction: subjects suffering from this dependence obtained exceptionally low scores in tests to assess both self-esteem that of emotional intelligence.

Criticisms

Criticisms of Emotional Intelligence

There are many criticisms of the concept of emotional intelligence. Only a few will be listed below.

Measurement of Emotional Intelligence

One of the main criticisms made of emotional intelligence concerns the inability to measure it objectively . Although tests are available for its measurement both according to the Salovey and Mayer model, and according to the Goleman model, many doubt their reliability, since they do not exactly target since there are no objectively correct or wrong answers .

Between saying and doing

Remaining within the methods used for measuring emotional intelligence and doubts about the reliability of the tests used to determine the degree, a new criticism emerges, namely that what emerges from them is not always true .

In fact, the fact that the execution of the aforementioned tests shows that a person knows how to manage emotions and how to behave accordingly in a given situation, even critical, does not necessarily mean that that person reacts in that way (emerged from the test) when that person given situation presents itself.

Usefulness of Emotional Intelligence

Another criticism - especially about the interpretation of Goleman - concerns the real utility of possessing a high level of emotional intelligence in the workplace . According to Goleman, in fact, a high emotional intelligence increases the probability of working success, especially at managerial level. The criticisms raised in this regard affirm that a greater ability to recognize and identify one's own and others' emotions does not always lead to success, but rather can put in difficulty the leader who must make important decisions. Studies conducted on the subject do not deny but neither confirm this criticism. In fact, from the studies published so far on it has emerged that in some situations a high emotional intelligence is helpful in achieving work success, in others it is neutral and in others it can be counterproductive. This is because the ability to succeed depends not only on the degree of emotional intelligence, but also on IQ (IQ), the personality of the individual and the job role that it covers.

Tool to Achieve Goals or Manipulation Weapon?

Finally, we report a final criticism concerning the fact that emotional intelligence is considered by almost everyone as a desirable characteristic .

In this sense, the idea has been advanced that the ability to manage the emotions of others to achieve certain goals cannot always be considered as a positive aspect, since this capacity could be used improperly as a "weapon" to manipulate thought and the action of others in their favor.

Did you know that ...

Regardless of the model taken into consideration, the definition of emotional intelligence, the methods and tests with which it is measured and even its very existence are still questioned. According to some, in fact, there would be no emotional intelligence understood as a type of intelligence in its own right, but the ability to recognize, identify, label and manage one's own emotions and those of others would be nothing but intelligence applied to a particular domain of life, that of emotions.

The concept of emotional intelligence, therefore, still remains the subject of various debates.

What is not

What is NOT Emotional Intelligence

In light of what has been said so far, it is clear that there is no single definition of emotional intelligence and how its meaning and its applications can change according to the theoretical models considered. It is not surprising, therefore, that the concept of emotional intelligence is often distorted and / or misunderstood and that irrelevant meanings are attributed to it. In this regard, the same psychologist John D. Mayer wanted to spend a few words in an article published in an American magazine to specify that - contrary to what can be read in numerous articles and magazines - emotional intelligence is NOT synonymous with happiness, optimism, calm and self-control, since these are traits that may or may not belong to the personality of the individual and must not be "mixed" with the characteristics and abilities attributed to emotional intelligence.