Emotional Intelligence: Can Give you an Edge

The meaning of Emotional Intelligence continues to develop over the years. In 1997, Salovey and Mayer refined their definition as: "the ability to process emotional information, more specifically an ability to recognize the meanings of emotions and their relationships, as well as being able to reason and problem-solve on the basis of them. Emotional intelligence (EI) is the ability, capacity, skill; or, in the case of the trait EI model, a self-perceived ability to identify, assess, and controls the emotions of oneself, of others and of group. Substantial disagreement exists regarding the definition of EI, with respect to both terminology and operationalizations. The definitions are so varied, and the field is growing so rapidly, that researchers are constantly re-evaluating even their own definitions of the construct. Currently, there are three main models of EI, i.e. Ability EI model, mixed models of EI (usually subsumed under trait EI) and Trait EI model. The Components of Emotional Intelligence described by various psychologists are Self-Awareness, Self-Regulation, Motivation, Empathy and Social Skill. Emotional intelligence is made up of layers of emotional memory held within our mind and body. Our body and unconscious mind hold most of our 'intelligence'. The unconscious mind is an enormous storage place for learnt information about us and the world. We are conscious of some emotions and thoughts however there is a great deal of how we feel that is unconscious. That is why we often feel overwhelmed and do not know why and that is also why emotional intelligence is not as straight forward as it may seem. An important and perhaps unrecognized aspect of emotional intelligence is exactly this. Low emotional intelligence is the answer why! You may have even experienced frustrating low emotional intelligence within yourself. Have you wondered why even though you know the way you are reacting to your partner is sabotaging your relationship you continue to do it?