Emotional intelligence, also known as emotional quotient (EQ), refers to a baby's ability to recognize and manage emotions. People have emotional attitudes towards things, with positive attitudes such as love, satisfaction, and happiness when their subjective needs are met, and negative attitudes such as hatred, sorrow, and anger when their needs are not met. How a child controls their own emotions, perceives the emotions of others and social cues, and handles external pressures, reflects their ability to process and understand emotions, and therefore their level of emotional intelligence.
Psychologists believe that a psychologically healthy baby should have at least the following 5 characteristics:
1. Normal intelligence and a thirst for knowledge.
2. The ability to gradually learn to regulate their emotions and maintain a positive and optimistic attitude.
3. The ability to engage in normal interactions with others, to share and cooperate, respect others, and be willing to help.
4. The ability to accept oneself, have self-control, actively face problems and difficulties encountered in life, and adapt to the environment.
5. Good behavioral habits and a sound personality.
Only when a baby has good emotional intelligence and possesses good character and moral qualities can they fully demonstrate their intelligence.
Parents and teachers must pay attention to a child's emotional intelligence.
Emotional intelligence refers to the emotional control of intelligence. Daniel Goleman defines emotional intelligence as "the ability to recognize one's own and others' emotions, self-motivate, and effectively control one's emotions and emotions in interpersonal communication." Individuals with high emotional intelligence are good at expressing and controlling their emotions, have good psychological states and harmonious interpersonal relationships, and have a higher chance of success compared to those with high IQ.
Therefore, experts believe that emotional intelligence is more important than IQ for success. IQ only accounts for 20% of a person's success, while emotional intelligence accounts for 80%. Goleman says, "People with high emotional intelligence, who can understand and grasp their own emotions clearly, and sensitively perceive and effectively respond to changes in others' emotions, have advantages in various aspects of life. 'Emotional intelligence' determines how we can fully and perfectly utilize our various abilities, including our innate intelligence." Therefore, people with high emotional intelligence are generally happier in life, able to maintain a positive outlook, and have a greater chance of success in whatever they do.
Parents and teachers should pay attention to a child's emotional intelligence. According to the theory of emotional intelligence, a person's emotional intelligence should cover at least the following 5 key points:
1. Spontaneity: Children with high emotional intelligence understand the importance of being spontaneous and take initiative in their actions, such as studying, doing homework, etc. Therefore, even if their IQ is not higher than others, their grades are usually better. Because of their strong sense of spontaneity, once they decide to do something, they will not give up until it is completed. They do not need external motivation to do things, whether it is studying or other tasks, they do it spontaneously, and they often achieve success.
2. Self-awareness: Every person has blind spots in their personality that they cannot see clearly. Therefore, everyone should reflect on themselves from different perspectives regularly. If a person does not understand their own emotions, it is difficult for them to build self-confidence. Without the ability to understand their own emotions, it is also impossible to understand the emotions of others.
3. Emotional control: Controlling one's emotions and resolving negative emotions is a key aspect of emotional intelligence. In many situations, people are easily provoked and getting angry does not solve the problem. However, if one can provide a good explanation for something negative, keep a calm mind, and suppress their excitement, they can maintain a cheerful mood. Additionally, knowing when and how to express anger appropriately to the right person is another characteristic of emotional intelligence.
4. Broad perspective: People who only focus on immediate benefits have low emotional intelligence. Goleman conducted an experiment where he told a group of children, "Here are some marshmallows, you can eat them right away. But if you wait for me to finish my work and come back, you will get double the amount of marshmallows." The result was that children who were able to resist the temptation and patiently wait not only performed better academically, but also were more adaptable, likable, adventurous, confident, and reliable when they grew up. On the other hand, children who wanted immediate gratification, and could not control themselves, had lower emotional intelligence and achieved lower levels of success in various aspects of life compared to those who could control themselves.
5. Interpersonal skills: Improving emotional intelligence includes improving interpersonal relationships. Interpersonal skills are the ability to communicate freely with others and grasp interpersonal relationships. To maintain good interpersonal relationships, one must understand the mindset of others and respect their opinions.
Emotional intelligence is a form of mental strength that is not limited by innate genetics and can grow with life experiences and learning. Therefore, it is never too early to develop emotional intelligence, and it is never too late to start even in adulthood.
