Traditionally, we have defined ourselves as a rational species, with a strong ability to control emotions through conscious and rational processes. However, the most modern theories of psychology state that we should give more importance to feelings and capacities such as empathy and emotional management. One of the most widespread theories is that of emotional intelligence. In it, pioneers like Daniel Goleman affirm that our rational capacities are not the most important thing on our path to self-improvement and psychological growth.
What is the real key to success?
If the Daniel Goleman's theory of emotional intelligence awakens your interest and you want to know more about your abilities beyond logic and rationality, we recommend you read the following Psychology-Online article.
We define Emotional Intelligence as the ability to understand the emotions of others, understand our own and manage our emotional states. Qualities like empathy, emotional control, motivation or social skills are part of a spectrum of capabilities within the Emotional Intelligence niche.
Rational brain vs emotional mind
If there is something that defines the human being, it is his ability to reason and reflect on everything that surrounds him, however, this is not always the case. Sometimes our emotions take over us, causing situations of both personal and social discomfort. We can say that each of us has two types of intelligence: rational and emotional. Both mentalities often overlap and, although they function independently, one cannot act without the influence of the other.
- Take, for example, making a very important decision: this mental process is characterized by weighing the advantages and disadvantages of the options to choose from. Although initially we are convinced that we have made a decision based on a rational process, when thinking about the repercussions that this decision will have, our emotional brain starts up, thus making each option have a strong component emotional.
Components of emotional intelligence
Goleman defines Emotional Intelligence as a way of understanding cognitive processes beyond logical and rational thought. He describes it by five principles o elements of Emotional Intelligence:
- Emotional self-awareness: the ability to understand our own moods.
- Emotional self-regulation: the ability to control behaviors based on emotional impulses and, in this way, better adapt to social dynamics.
- Motivation: the ability to direct our energies towards a goal or objective.
- Empathy: the quality of understanding and living the emotional states of other people as one's own.
- Social skills: the tendency to always give the most adequate response to the social demands of the environment.
Before talking about Goleman, it is important to mention that he did not invent this term, "only" he coined it. He defined a theory based on Emotional Intelligence with which today we can work our psychological capacities. Almost a hundred years ago there was already talk of the emotional aspects of intelligence, however, thanks to this new wave of theories, and with the help of neuroscience, we can affirm that emotional intelligence has enormous power in our life and in the personal success.
The evolution of Emotional Intelligence
Daniel Goleman talks about physical and structural evolution that he has been experiencing our brain. He claims that in prehistoric times our survival functions were primitive and based on simple answers to keep us alive, that is why reason that the brainstem area (the most primitive brain area) is responsible for regulating functions such as respiration, digestion and temperature bodily.
Over the generations, we learned new ways of relating to each other and our brains evolved, thus adapting to our most advanced way of life. It is said that the limbic system (the one in charge of regulating our emotional behavior) underwent an enormous evolution. Today, the human nervous system is extremely complex, full of connections, and has a specific area for consciously managing our thoughts.
The importance of emotional capacities
While it is true that our ability to reason allows us to solve problems and situations effectively, it is not the secret of human happiness or personal success. Goleman states that IQ only predicts 10-20% of success in life. It seems to be practically irrelevant in our relationships, what matters in the end is not our intellectual abilities but our personal abilities.
Emotional Intelligence is not fixed, it oscillates throughout our lives and thanks to this we can develop new capacities and social skills, it improves over the years.
In summary, Daniel Goleman's theory of emotional intelligence states that something beyond the intellect is required for us to "do well in life" and that Emotional Intelligence is the key to personal success.
To measure all these capacities that we have been mentioning, it was necessary to create a scale or test to discover our level of Emotional Intelligence. High emotional capacities can be seen reflected in different areas of our day to day, whether in the family, love relationships and we can even value Emotional intelligence at work.
The Goleman Emotional Intelligence Test is based on checking our current level (remember that it is a capacity that can fluctuate) in relation to scores of the entire population. It consists of 68 questions or items that we must answer with total sincerity. It can be passed to both adults and children and the questions are easy to understand.
You can take the test by doing click In the following link: Emotional Intelligence Test
This article is merely informative, in Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.
If you want to read more articles similar to Theory of Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman: summary and test, we recommend that you enter our category of Emotions.
