EMOTIONAL ENTELLIGENCE

Leeper (1948) claimed that Emotions are not chaotic and something to
be left behind, but rather they are motivators that energize, maintain,
and direct behavior.
We see emotions as structured reactions that span many areas of
psychology, including physical, mental, motivational and experiential.
Emotions normally come about in response to an internal or external
incident that has a positive or negative value to the individual.(Salovey
and Mayer 1990)
Emotional intelligence is the capacity to recognize and understand
one's own emotions, as well as those of others, and to use this
information to guide one's thinking and behavior.(Salovey and Mayer
1990)
People with emotional intelligence possess a certain level of positive
mental health. They are aware of their own emotions and those of
others, and are open to both positive and negative emotions. This
understanding leads to the effective management of their own and
other’s emotions, and thus contributes to overall wellbeing. This makes
them enjoyable to be around and creates a feeling of contentment in
those they interact with. They are not looking to make themselves feel
better with mindless pleasure, but rather use their emotions to help
them grow. This means that they may need to endure difficult emotions
or restrain their feelings in order to reach a greater goal. Emotionally
intelligent people are tuned-in to their emotions and use sophisticated
methods to regulate them as they work towards their objectives.
(Salovey and Mayer 1990)
On the other hand, many adjustment problems may be the result of a
lack of emotional intelligence. Those who don't learn how their own

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emotional regulation can become a slave to them. Those who can't
recognizing emotions in others, or that make others feel bad, can be
perceived like cloddish or ofish and end up being ostracized .(Salovey
and Mayer 1990)
In the 1700s, sentimentalist in Europe believed that their feelings and
gut instincts were more accurate than rationality..(Reddy and Reddy
2001)
People of various backgrounds and personalities will have varying levels
of emotional intelligence. People with strong emotional intelligence can
be aware of their own emotions and those of others, and be
comfortable and open to all kinds of emotional experiences. This ability
to recognize and manage emotions can lead to better overall mental
health and wellbeing.(Mayer and Salovey 1993)
Having emotional intelligence is more essential than having a high IQ. It
is possible to cultivate our emotional intelligence by altering our
behaviors, being cognizant of our own emotions and those of others,
and being aware of our own capabilities.(Goleman 1998)
We see EI as part of the group of intelligences which include the social,
practical and personal intelligences that we refer to as the 'hot'
intelligences.(Mayer, Salovey et al. 2004)

The two main approaches to EI are Specific-Ability and Integrative-

Model, which both focus on mental abilities and skills related to
emotional information. There is also a third Mixed Model approach that
includes attributes such as assertiveness, flexibility, and the need for
achievement, but this does not fit within the definition of EI used in this
context.(Mayer, Roberts et al. 2008)

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Emotional intelligence is the variance in how someone perceives,
manages, and utilizes emotional information. This has been linked to
numerous life outcomes, such as physical and mental health, job
performance, and social connections, meaning that EI can be developed
and create new opportunities for treatment.(Nelis, Quoidbach et al.
2009)
It is important for people to be aware of themselves in order to be
successful in certain situations. They must be able to control their
emotions and use their skills, particularly in difficult times. It is
necessary to be aware of what motivates others, so that the individual
is able to affect their behavior. Building effective relations and having a
successful career requires the ability to manage emotions, even if the
person has the knowledge and good ideas. EQ components cannot be
used in isolation, they rely on each other.(Cotruş, Stanciu et al. 2012)
The concept of emotional intelligence is not a valid form of intelligence
as it is too broad and inclusive in its definition, making it without
intelligible meaning. Emotions are instinctive responses that come from
subconscious beliefs and values, and therefore cannot be seen as
reliable when assessing reality. Reason is the key to understanding and
addressing emotions, in order to identify the beliefs that are causing
them and determine whether the values are rational. Furthermore,
reason can be used to reprogram the subconscious and identify
defense mechanisms that may be preventing one from experiencing
emotions.(Locke 2005)

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Cotruş, A., et al. (2012). "EQ vs. IQ which is most important in the success or failure of a student?"
Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences 46: 5211-5213.

Goleman, D. (1998). Working with emotional intelligence, Bantam.

Leeper, R. W. (1948). "A motivational theory of emotion to replace'emotion as disorganized response.'."

Psychological review 55(1): 5.

Locke, E. A. (2005). "Why emotional intelligence is an invalid concept." Journal of organizational

Behavior 26(4): 425-431.

Mayer, J. D., et al. (2008). "Human abilities: Emotional intelligence." Annu. Rev. Psychol. 59: 507-536.

Mayer, J. D. and P. Salovey (1993). The intelligence of emotional intelligence, Elsevier. 17: 433-442.

Mayer, J. D., et al. (2004). "TARGET ARTICLES:" emotional intelligence: Theory, findings, and
Implications"." Psychological inquiry 15(3): 197-215.

Nelis, D., et al. (2009). "Increasing emotional intelligence:(How) is it possible?" Personality and individual
differences 47(1): 36-41.

Reddy, W. M. and W. M. Reddy (2001). The navigation of feeling: A framework for the history of
emotions, Cambridge University Press.

Salovey, P. and J. D. Mayer (1990). "Emotional intelligence." Imagination, cognition and personality 9(3):
185-211.