Perceiving Emotional Intelligence

Emotional Intelligence

Emotional Intelligence is an ability stemming from the feeling of empathy that most people acquire as they experience new things in their life. It is the ability to monitor the emotions within yourself and that of others in order to discriminate between feelings and label them as such. We use this emotional information to guide our thinking patterns and behaviors. High emotional intelligence levels directly correlates within an individual to greater mental health, exceptional job performance, and more advanced leadership skills.

Some experts believe that our Emotional Intelligence Quotient is more important that are basic Intelligence Quotient. Some researchers believe that individuals are born with their attributes of Emotional Intelligence, yet others believe Emotional Intelligence can be learned and strengthened. Since 1990, Peter Salovey and John D. Mayer have led research efforts on the theory of Emotional Intelligence. In their article titled “The Intelligence of Emotional Intelligence,” they claim that Emotional Intelligence is “the subset of social intelligence that involves the ability to monitor one’s own and other’s feelings and emotions, to discriminate among them and use this information to guide one’s thinking and actions.” This definition has led Salovey and Mayer to propose a model identifying four different factors of Emotional Intelligence within an individual.

Perceiving emotions accurately is the first step to understanding them. In most cases, the ability to decipher body language and non-verbal communication is key. The second step is reasoning with emotions. This requires an individual to use emotions to promote thinking processes and cognitive ability. Our emotions help d...

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...ns and my learning environment instead of peacefully and respectfully approaching the individual personally. If another student is breaking social rules I must run and tell the teacher immediately, even if I think it is possible to handle my problems myself like an adult, and even if I do not want to get that student in trouble or bother my professors and administrators. If there is a social problem with another student involving emotional intelligence, I must not try and interact with that person because it is the duty of the system and its officials to do that. It is my duty as a student to take these problems to the system and its officials so that a solution may be issued to me, instead of attempting to be the solution itself. I did not mean to cause a disruption to my fellow students while attempting to resolve this issue myself and I sincerely apologize.