Emotional Intelligence

Lecture 8

Emotional Intelligence

ability to:-

• recognise, understand, manage own emotions

• recognise, understand, influence emotions of others (Goleman, 1996; Mayer & Salovey, 1990)

Benefit of Higher Emotional Intelligence

easier to form and maintain interpersonal relationships and ‘fit in’ group situations.

better at understanding own psychological state e.g. managing stress effectively, less likely to have depression.

Mayer & Salovey’s (1997) Model of Emotional Intelligence

EI = cognitive ability separate but associated to general intelligence.

• perception → accurately perceive emotions in face/voice of others

• emotional facilitation → emotions guide cog. system to promote thinking, focus to important matters

• understanding → understand messages conveyed via emotions, reason about messages

• management → self-control; regulate own and other’s emotions to promote goals

Mayer-Salovey-Caruso EI Test (MSCEIT) - 141 items.

Mayer & Salovey’s (1997) Model of Emotional Intelligence - Research

Mayer, Salovey & Caruso (1997) - Ps judge emotional content of stimuli (faces, designs, colours, etc). support for emotion perception branch.

Lane et al. (1990) - Ps who perform well responding to hypothetical emotional situations higher in emotion perception, lower in alexithymia. support managing + understanding branches.

Bar-On’s Emotional Social Intelligence Model (ESI) (2006)

emotional and social competencies, skills and facilitators:

• intrapersonal

  • emotional awareness, independence, self-actualisation

• interpersonal

  • empathy, social responsibility, interpersonal relationships

• stress management

  • stress tolerance, impulse control

• adaptability

  • problem-solving, reality testing

• general mood

  • happiness, optimism

Bar-On’s Emotional Social Intelligence Model (ESI) (2006) - Research

Bechara et al. (2000) - neurological patients w/ damage to areas associated with emotional signalling, making personal decisions = less effective.

Bar-On et al. (2003) - EI may be distinct from cognitive intelligence. EI important to both personal and social functioning.

measure using Emotional Quotient Inventory (1997) - 133 items.

Goleman’s (1988; 2001) - Competency Theory of EI

personal competencies:

• self awareness → emotional awareness, self-confidence

• self-regulation → self-control, conscientiousness

• motivation → achievement drive, initiative

social competencies:

• social awareness/empathy → understanding others, service orientation, political awareness

• social skills/management → communication, conflict management, leadership

measure using Emotional Competence Inventory (Goleman & Boyatzis, 2005).

EI and Stress - research

Ciarrochi & Deane (2001) - interpersonal EI led to better interactions with health professionals → tendency to seek help, follow advice.

Saklofske et al. (2007) - EI linked to rational/problem-focused coping.

Por et al. (2011) - EI positively related to wellbeing + perceived nursing competency. negatively related to perceived stress.

EI and Social Interaction - Research

Lopes et al. (2004) - pos. relationship between ability to manage emotions and perceived social interaction quality.

Metaj-Macula (2017) - EI influences communication, social interaction + perceived social support. higher capability to assess + express emotions, higher appreciation of perceived social support in repsondents.

Emotional Intelligence and Social Competence - Research

Marquez et al. (2006) - relation between EI, social competence and academic achievement.

Boyatzis et al. (2017) - emotional and social intelligence competencies (self-control, empathy, adaptability) differentiate above average incident team commanders (wildfires).

Zeidner & Matthews (2017) - higher EI has adaptive benefits during distress (impulse control, adaptive coping strategies), mediated by social support.

Emotion Regulation Strategies

Kotsou et al. (2011) - EI training improves emotional regulation.
Decker et al. (2019) - meditation and breathing techniques reduce anxiety and regulate autonomic nervous system.

Empathy Strategies

McGarry et al. (2021) - perspective-taking guides direction of social interactions and improves social competence.

Interpersonal Communication Strategies

Fard & Akhbari (2021) - assertiveness training improves social skills and coping with social anxiety.