2 of 14

This project is implemented with the financial support of the European Solidary Coprs program of the European Commission, administered in Bulgaria by the National Agency "Human Resource Development Centre". The content of this publication does not reflect the position of the European Community, the ESC program or the HRDC.

3 of 14

WHAT IS EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE?�

Although there are many kinds of intelligence, and they are often connected to one another, there are some very significant differences between them.

Drawing from several different sources, a simple definition of emotional intelligence (also called the Emotional Quotient, or EQ) describes an ability to monitor your own emotions as well as the emotions of others, to distinguish between and label different emotions correctly, and to use emotional information to guide your thinking and behavior and influence that of others. Although there are many kinds of intelligence, and they are often connected to one another, there are some very significant differences between them.

4 of 14

� EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE IN PSYCHOLOGY�

Emotional intelligence filled a gap in the mainstream understanding of intelligence, especially for psychologists. The field always seemed to have a general understanding that IQ wasn’t everything, but the theories on what, exactly, the other important components were varied greatly, and psychologists couldn’t agree on a single concept or idea.

When the idea of emotional intelligence was first introduced, psychologists realized it was the aspect of intelligence they’d been missing.

5 of 14

THREE KEY RESEARCHERS OF EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE�

1. The Work of Peter Salovey

Peter Salovey, along with his colleague John Mayer,

put forth one of the first formal theories of emotional intelligence in 1990. They coined the term and described it as “the ability to recognize, understand, utilize, and regulate emotions effectively in everyday life”

It is their work that provoked an explosion of interest in emotional intelligence, both within academic fields and in the general public. Judging by the proliferation of books, studies, and research questions centered on the topic, Salovey and Mayer truly struck a chord with their theory.

6 of 14

II. A Look at Daniel Goleman and His Renowned Book

He published the bestselling book Emotional Intelligence in 1995, which helped introduce it into the mainstream.

Goleman saw emotional intelligence as a vital factor in success, especially for children. He proposed that promoting social and emotional learning in children to boost their EI would not only improve their learning abilities, it would also help them succeed in school by reducing or eliminating some of the most distracting and harmful behavioral problems.

7 of 14

III.Travis Bradberry and Emotional Intelligence 2.0

Following the groundbreaking book by Goleman, author

Travis Bradberry and his colleague Jean Greaves capitalized on the growing interest and published their own book, Emotional Intelligence 2.0, which outlines a step-by-step program for enhancing it. Bradberry and Greaves propose 66 evidence-backed strategies to build emotional intelligence by teaching self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, and relationship management.

The authors claim that the book, praised by the Dalai Lama himself, can help you better understand the emotions of yourself and others, and offers a pre- and post-test to prove it.

8 of 14

THE FRAMEWORK��

THERE ARE TWO NUMBERS TO REMEMBER TO HELP YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE IS ALL ABOUT: FIVE AND FOUR. THERE ARE FIVE COMPONENTS OF THE EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE MODEL AND FOUR DIMENSIONS TO EQ.

The 5 Components/Elements/Domains of the EQ Model

According to Daniel Goleman, there are five components or elements of emotional intelligence:

Self-Awareness;
Self-Regulation;
Motivation;
Empathy;
Social Skills

The 4 Dimensions of Emotional Intelligence (and a Chart)

According to EQ “founding fathers” Salovey and Mayer, there are four distinct dimensions or branches of emotional intelligence that form a hierarchy of emotional skills and abilities:

Perceiving emotion;
Using emotions to facilitate thought;
Understanding emotions;
Managing emotions.

9 of 14

The 5 Components/Elements/Domains of the EQ Model

Self-awareness can be defined as “the ability to recognize and understand your own emotions.
Self-regulation is one step further—to have high EQ, we must not only be able to recognize our own emotions, but we must also be able to appropriately express, regulate, and manage them.
People who have high EQs also generally possess more intrinsic motivation. In other words, people high in EQ are motivated for internal reasons rather than external rewards like gaining wealth, respect, or fame. Those with high EQs are motivated for their own personal reasons and work toward their own goals.
Empathy can be defined as the ability to understand how other people are feeling and recognize, on an intimate level, how you would feel if you were in their position. It does not mean you sympathize with, validate, or accept their behavior, just that you can see things from their perspective and feel what they feel.
Social skills are the last piece of the EQ puzzle; these skills are what allow people to interact socially with one another and to successfully navigate social situations.

10 of 14

The 4 Dimensions of Emotional Intelligence

11 of 14

HOW CAN WE IMPROVE EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE?

Observe how you react to people.

Do you rush to judgment before you know all of the facts? Do you stereotype? Look honestly at how you think and interact with other people. Try to put yourself in their place , and be more open and accepting of their perspectives and needs.

Look at your work environment.

Do you seek attention for your accomplishments? Humility can be a wonderful quality, and it doesn't mean that you're shy or lack self-confidence. When you practice humility, you say that you know what you did, and you can be quietly confident about it. Give others a chance to shine – put the focus on them, and don't worry too much about getting praise for yourself.

12 of 14

Do a self-evaluation. Try out our emotional intelligence quiz . What are your weaknesses? Are you willing to accept that you're not perfect and that you could work on some areas to make yourself a better person? Have the courage to look at yourself honestly – it can change your life.
Examine how you react to stressful situations. Do you become upset every time there's a delay or something doesn't happen the way you want? Do you blame others or become angry at them, even when it's not their fault? The ability to stay calm and in control in difficult situations is highly valued – in the business world and outside it. Keep your emotions under control when things go wrong.
Take responsibility for your actions. If you hurt someone's feelings, apologize directly – don't ignore what you did or avoid the person. People are usually more willing to forgive and forget if you make an honest attempt to make things right.
Examine how your actions will affect others – before you take those actions. If your decision will impact others, put yourself in their place. How will they feel if you do this? Would you want that experience? If you must take the action, how can you help others deal with the effects?

13 of 14

�FOR MORE INFORMATION

14 of 14

ASSOCIATION OF YOUNG PSYCHOLOGISTS IN BULGARIA�“4TH APRIL”��

By telephone:+359 89 739 1375

E-mail: marinagrancharovaaa@gmail.com

smpb.4april@gmail.com

Facebook: Colours of Diversity vol. 1

Instagram: COLOURSOFDIVERSITY