Since Daniel Goleman popularized Emotional Intelligence in 1995, many studies have been conducted to try to unravel the scope of this concept. One of the most interesting studies was carried out in the Middle East and included more than 400 managers who held different positions within their organizations. The researchers concluded that Emotional Intelligence could predict with 58% reliability the probability of success in a professional career.
Another study conducted in Canada with 372 university students found that 80% of students who had achieved good grades also had high Emotional Intelligence.
However, the fact that Emotional Intelligence is linked to success and, in a certain way, facilitates it, is only one of the many repercussions of this competence, since in reality its tentacles extend to many other spheres of our lives and influence our behavior.
What are the effects of Emotional Intelligence in our daily lives?
1. It helps us make better decisions
Emotions can be of great help when we are faced with a problem, as they can warn us of danger and make us take a more cautious stance. However, sometimes they become an obstacle, especially when they are not related to the situation we are facing. However, Emotional Intelligence helps us make better decisions, as revealed by a study carried out at the universities of Yale and Toronto.
These researchers came up with a very curious experiment: they made some people feel anxious by asking them to prepare an impromptu speech. Then, they asked them if they would be willing to support a health clinic project.
The results showed that people with higher Emotional Intelligence were more aware that the anxiety they experienced was not related to the decision they had to make. Therefore, 66% gave their support to the project but only 7% of those with low Emotional Intelligence did so.
Contrary to popular belief, good decision-making does not involve eliminating emotions, because they are also a source of information, acting as somatic markers. The key is to discover where these emotions come from, what causes them, and how they can influence our perception of the problem.
2. It makes us trust others
Although in recent years distrust has become fashionable and has become established as a pattern of social behavior, the truth is that trusting others has multiple benefits. It is known that trust not only makes us happier and increases our level of satisfaction, but it is also linked to better physical health and a greater propensity to undertake new projects.
Now a study conducted at Oxford University reveals that people with Emotional Intelligence tend to trust others more. These researchers are convinced that the key lies in their ability to empathize and quickly detect the most positive characteristics of the people they interact with. Why?
On the one hand, Emotional Intelligence helps them to form a fairly accurate image of the person in front of them and this helps them to minimize uncertainty, allowing them to adopt a more open attitude. On the other hand, Emotional Intelligence also implies a certain degree of self-confidence, which, unquestionably, is projected onto others.
3. Reduces stress
Numerous studies have found a positive correlation between emotional intelligence and lower stress levels. For example, researchers at the University of Cincinnati recruited 200 people and subjected them to different tasks that generated varying degrees of stress. They found that those with higher emotional intelligence also experienced less stress. The key is that these people put into practice very effective stress management strategies that allow them to regulate the intensity of negative emotions and control their effects.
An even more interesting study conducted at Yale University went a step further to discover how the body of emotionally intelligent people responds to stress. This time, researchers were able to notice that even in stressful situations, these people had lower levels of cortisol (the stress hormone) and lower blood pressure. This tells us that facing conflicts and problems by using Emotional Intelligence really helps us to alleviate the effects of stress, even on a physical level and even if we are not aware of it.
Can Emotional Intelligence be developed?
Emotional Intelligence is a set of skills that allow us to recognize and regulate both our own emotions and those of others. This means that it is not an innate ability but can be developed throughout life. In fact, there are Emotional Intelligence courses in which different skills are worked on. The best thing of all is that with these workshops not only are results achieved very quickly but these are stable over time.
However, if you decide to take one of these courses, you’d better make sure they are taught by an accredited university or psychological center, since these topics are easy fodder for gurus who promote easy recipes without scientific basis.
Most of these courses dedicate a few hours to analyzing the concept of Emotional Intelligence and its fundamental pillars, and then move on to practical activities, where you will be taught to detect your emotions and their causes, as well as how to manage them to get the most out of them. From a social point of view, empathy and the ability to face conflicts without letting negative emotions get out of hand are worked on.
References:
Carl, N. & Billari, F. C. (2014) Generalized Trust and Intelligence in the United States. PlosOne; 9(3).
Freedman, J.; Morrison, J. & Olsson, A. (2010) Leadership Success and Emotional Intelligence in the Middle East. 6 Seconds.
Gerald, M. et. Al. (2006) Emotional intelligence, personality, and task-induced stress. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Applied; 12(2): 96-107.
Parker, J. et. Al. (2004) Emotional intelligence and academic success: examining the transition from high school to university. Personality and Individual Differences; 36(1): 163-172.
Salovey, P. et. Al. (2002) Perceived Emotional Intelligence, Stress Reactivity, and Symptom Reports: Further Explorations Using the Trait Meta-Mood Scale. Psychology & Health; 17(5): 611-627.
