Emotions, Intelligence, and Emotional Intelligence

Do you recognise the emotions you and others are feeling? Can you manage and
respond to those feelings? If so, it is likely that you have developed the basis of some
emotional intelligence.
The term ‘Emotional Intelligence’ (EI) was first coined by the American psychologists
Mayer and Salovey in the 1990s and popularised by Goleman in 1995. Emotionally
intelligent individuals are said to be those who are well aware of or have the ability to
identify and name their own emotions. Such people also have the ability to harness
those emotions and apply them to tasks like thinking and problem-solving. They can
regulate their own emotions when necessary and help others to do the same, and they
also have the ability to show empathy, understanding the wants, needs, and viewpoints
of those around them.
We all endure stressful days; this is completely normal and completely manageable if
you have the right skills at your disposal. Uncontrolled and misunderstood emotions can
exacerbate our vulnerability to other mental health issues, like stress, anxiety, and
depression. Emotional intelligence skills can effectively help individuals deal with
negative emotional states and promote more positive emotions in their place. Failure to
address and manage stress can lead to a further deterioration of one’s mental state and
impact our physical health in turn.
EI is strongly linked to personal and professional development, but it is more than
about how we manage our behaviour and navigate social complexities. It is an
in-demand competency in many vocations and can support the advancement towards
academic and professional success, improve relationships, and boost communication
skills – the list goes on. The implications of EI should not be downplayed; the ability to
understand and manage your emotions is the first step in realising your true potential.
Moreover, having an authentic understanding of the emotions we feel and why we are
feeling them can have a huge impact on our decision-making abilities. Superior EI is an
important element in the prevention of decision-making based on emotional biases. If
we can’t look at our emotions objectively, it is unlikely that we will be able to stop
ourselves from making misguided decisions based on them, and we know that low EI
can create anxiety and lead to inappropriately made decisions. It’s not about removing
emotions completely from the decision-making process; rather, it’s about recognising
the emotions that are unrelated to the problem and not allowing them to be influential to
the final result.
If you ask someone to define success or happiness, you will probably get more than
one answer. Does your career make you successful? Or your intelligence? Perhaps the
amount of money you have? Depending on who you ask, it can be anything! Many
assume that our intelligence quotient, a.k.a IQ, is the most credible measure of success.
While most of us have taken an IQ test in our lives, few of us know how IQ tests came
to be. Traditionally, IQ tests were seen as a major determinant of intelligence and living
a successful life. In modern times, putting a high emphasis on IQ is questionable. There
is now a deeper understanding of the broader skills a person can possess – not all of
which can be found in a written test or factored into a number score. Together with EI,
the complex skills needed to score a high IQ can play a critical role which determines
successful living. For those with strong emotional intelligence, schooling, having healthy
relationships, and building a career may be much easier to navigate. IQ alone is not
enough to excel in life. You can be the most intelligent person in the room, but if you
don’t have EI, do you have the skills to quieten negative thoughts or the mental fortitude
to manage stress? Goleman described EI as being powerful and, at times, more
powerful than IQ as a prediction of success in life.

Summary
Emotional intelligence (EI) is a relatively new (0) term which refers to the ability to
manage your own emotions and understand those of the people around you. In practical
terms, it means being (43) __aware that emotions can drive our behaviour and impact
people either positively or negatively. It also means learning how to help deal with
emotions – both our own and those of others because we all experience uncomfortable
sensations of tension, stress, and anxiety which strain our mind and body. EI skills can
have positive effects by helping to make stress more (44) _manageable, which enables
us to spot and tackle tough situations before things escalate. It is suggested that EI is
closely (45) ___linked to improved psychological and physical health. However, it also
helps to foster the (46) _advancement of your personal and career success. Developing
a good understanding of how our emotions affect our behaviour is necessary – the (47)
_prevention of negative behaviour, such as choosing options out of fear, guilt, or
sadness rather than rationally, should be our aim. In any case, (48) __low emotional
intelligence refers to the inability to accurately perceive emotions and use that
information to guide your thinking and actions. In addition, some psychologists believe
that placing so much (49) ___emphasis on standard measures of intelligence (i.e. IQ
scores) is arguable because they are too narrow and do not encompass the full range of
human intelligence. The combination of IQ and EI affects how we manage behaviour
and is a factor that (50) determines the potential achievement of positive results.