Topic 4 Emotional Intelligence
Emotional Intelligence is “the ability to perceive, interpret, demonstrate, control, evaluate, and use emotions to communicate with and relate to others effectively and constructively” (Cherry, 2023). Emotional intelligence cultivation enhances understanding, interpretation, and response to other people’s emotions in a productive and healthy way. Emotionally intelligent people:
- Can easily detect and describe other people’s feelings.
- Are aware of their personal strengths and limitations.
- Are self-confident.
- Can let go of mistakes and accept responsibility for them.
- Can accept and embrace change.
- Are curious.
- Feel empathy for others and are sensitive towards their feelings of other people.
- Can manage their emotions in challenging situations.
Emotional intelligence can also be defined as the ability to recognise and be aware of one’s own emotions, as well as to influence the emotions of others. Goleman (2000) divides Emotional Intelligence into four main pillars:
- Self-awareness: Perceiving one’s own emotions accurately.
- Self-management: Emotional self-control entails controlling emotions, responding appropriately, and responding to the emotions of others.
- Social awareness: Showing empathy towards other people’s emotions.
- Relationship management: Bonding with others, supporting, leading.
Parental emotional intelligence development can have huge impact on both their own and their children’s mental wellbeing. Emotionally intelligent parents can effectively manage their emotions in challenging times and know when to take some time to calm themselves down and react in a rational way. Such parents can better understand how their children are feeling. Emotionally immature parents are unable to understand their children’s emotions, and, thus, unsuccessful into managing their own emotions. Such examples lead to children growing to be adults who are constantly suppressing their emotions, being used into seeing their parents’ emotional outbursts. Lastly, self-awareness leads to better self-understanding, and, therefore, better self-control. Likewise, it enhances empathy and understanding for their children’s emotions.
