IQ vs EQ

The term “IQ” is known worldwide and is used typically when one refers to how
smart a person is. For example; “My best friend doesn’t need to study as much as I
because she has a higher IQ”. IQ is shorthand for “Intellectual Quotient”. It is used as a
predictor of how well a person performs academically. However, our IQ is but only one of
the different measures of our abilities. There are actually many other kinds of intelligence.
There is spatial intelligence, which is the ability to imagine in 3 dimensions. Musical
intelligence is the ability to recognize rhythm, cadence, and tone. There are also athletic,
artistic, and mechanical types of intelligence. One very important type of intelligence
which seems to be often overlooked is Emotional Intelligence.

When one is successful in controlling his/her emotions, one develops emotional

maturity. Note that those who experience difficulty in getting along with others have a
great deal of conflict in their loves. This is where Emotional Intelligence comes in. There
are many definitions that one can find about EI but most would agree that it involves
perceiving, understanding, and regulation emotions.
 Now, what is Emotional Intelligence? It is the ability to understand, use, and
manage our emotions. It is sometimes called EQ (or EI) for short. It can also involve the
ability to reason and problem-solve, based on the emotions we experience. Similar in a
way that a high IQ serves as a predictor of high test scores, a high EQ is able to serve as
a predictor of success in social and emotional circumstances. EQ assists us in developing
strong relationships, making good decisions, and properly dealing with difficult situations.
Versus being book-smart, one way of thinking about the EQ is that it is, in a way, being
people-smart. The ability to understand others and interact communally can help us in
achieving success in nearly any area of life, especially in stressful environments such as
work or school.

EQ: Under Construction

Emotional Intelligence is something that develops, as we get older. It has to! Had
our EW remained the same throughout all our lives, adults would still behave as small
children; expressing their emotions only through means by which children are
accustomed, such as stomping, crying, hitting, yelling, and generally losing control!.

Some of the skills that make up EQ develop earlier, and they may even seem
simpler: For example, recognizing our emotions only appear to be easy once we know
what to pay attention to. However, the EQ skill of managing our emotional reactions and
choosing a mood might then appear harder to master. The reasoning behind this is
because the part of the brain that is responsible for self-management continues to evolve
and mature beyond our adolescent years. What allows for those brain pathways to
continue developing is practice!
Emotions and the Brain

3 Parts of Human Brain Involved in the Creation of Emotions(Dr. Joseph LeDoux)

1. Neocortex – the receiver of the pulses from the images seen by the visual
thalamus. The thinking brain that assesses what to do in relation to the information
passed by the thalamus.
2. Frontal lobe – Send the signals/information to the other parts of the body for action.
3. Amygdala – Center of action and emotional sentinel that can take control of our
actions. It keeps a memory bank of previous experiences related to emotions.
 Plutchik’s Eight Basic Emotions

Source: https://evelynzheng5133.files.wordpress.com/2015/07/8_4.jpg

Robert Plutchik (2001) had a different theory about what makes a fundamental
emotion. He came up with his own theory of emotions with oppositional pairs for each
and categorized them. From his list, he had anger vs. fear, joy vs. sadness, trust vs.
disgust and surprise vs. anticipation. These are the eight emotions that Plutchik believed
to be fundamental. He organized them into a wheel with levels of intensity.
 Using the wheel, Plutchik was able to see how the identified emotions blend with
each other to form more complex ones. For instance, joy blends with trust and equals
love. Love is not a fundamental emotion, it does not increase our health condition but
surely, love is a combination of the basic ones that he identified.

CHARACTERISTICS OF EMOTIONS
Physiological Response–emotions also cause strong physiological reactions.
These physiological reactions could be your heart beating faster, palm sweating,
or rapid breathing.
Subjective Experiences–there are basic universal emotions that we experience
all over the world. Although, the experience of an emotion can be subjective. For
example, when we feel angry, we might experience different ranges of anger, from
annoyance to rage. Our experiences are what makes our emotions subjective.
Getting in ADDU SHS could elicit different subjective emotional experiences for
each person. One person could feel excited and nervous; another person could
feel scared.
Behavioral Response–when we feel certain emotions, there are certain
behaviors that can be observed, for example, when we are happy, our behavior
would be highly optimistic, you smile a lot, and nothing would bother you. On the
other hand, when you feel angry, the observable behavior here is that you are
easily irritated, you have a short temper, and you frown. Behavioral responses also
differ from different cultures.
FUNCTIONS OF EMOTIONS
Prepares one for action – emotions prepare us to act on certain situations. When
you see a dog growling towards you, what would you most likely do? The fight-or-
flight response also helps us act to these certain emotions; the fight-or-flight
reaction that is controlled by the sympathetic nervous system helps us to either
fight or fly the threat.
Shapes Future Behavior – emotions help us make some appropriate responses
in the future because we learn from the emotions we have previously experienced.
When we feel an unpleasant emotion, we would avoid getting in that certain
situation where the emotion is being elicit. On the other hand, we would repeat
certain behaviors that would make us feel pleasant emotions.
Helps Regulate Social Interaction – emotions are being communicated in both
ways, verbally and non-verbally, and this serves as warning signs to the people
who surround us. This way, they get to understand what we are experiencing.

IMPORTANCE OF EMOTIONS
Emotions are part of one’s daily life and they contribute to one’s normal experiences and
in motivating one’s behavior. Emotions are important because of the following reasons:

1. Survival
According to Goleman (1995), emotions have always served as our internal
guidance system. Though the million years of evolution, nature has developed our
emotions. They alert us when natural human need is not being met. For example,
when we feel sad, our need for connection with other people is not met. When we
feel rejected, it is our need for acceptance which needs to be met. Our interaction
with other people to meet these natural human needs can definitely help us
survive.
2. Decision Making
Our emotions help us make decisions because they are a valuable source of
information. There are studies that show that when a person’s emotional
 connections are disconnected in the brain, he/she will be incapable of making
simple decisions for the simple reasons that he/she is unaware of how he/she will
feel about his/her career choices.
3. Boundary Setting
There are times when we feel uncomfortable with a person’s behavior. During this
instance, our emotions alert us as well. If we learn to trust our emotions and feel
confident about expressing ourselves, we can actually let other people know about
the awkward feeling that we have as soon as we are aware of our feelings. This
way, we are able to set our borders necessary to protect our physical and mental
health.
4. Communication
Our emotions help us communicate with others. Our facial expressions convey a
wide range of emotions to the people around us. If we look sad or hurt, we are
sending others an indicator that we are in need of their help. This way, we are
better understood and cared about by other people.
5. Unity
Clearly, people around the globe have different beliefs (may it be religious, cultural
or political) but emotions are perhaps the greatest potential source of uniting all
members of the human race. Since emotions are universal, people become
unified. The emotions of empathy, compassion, cooperation, and forgiveness all
have the potential to unite us. As the saying goes: “Beliefs divide us. Emotions
unite us.”
TYPES OF RESPONSES

1. Passive response:
Passive behavior means not being able to express our own needs and
feelings, that or expressing them so weakly that they would not be so noticed to
be addressed at all.
✔ A passive response is not usually in your best interest, because it allows
other people to violate your rights to be heard out for how you feel.
However, there are certain situations which do call for passivity as an
appropriate emotional reaction, sometimes to keep oneself out of harm’s
way.

2. Aggressive response:
Aggressive behavior is asking for what you want or expressing how you feel
in a threatening, sarcastic or humiliating manner which may offend other persons.
Behaving aggressively is asking for what you want or saying how you feel in a
threatening, sarcastic or humiliating way that may offend the other person(s).
✔ An aggressive response is never in your best interest because it invites
conflict.
 3. Assertive response:
Assertive behavior is when we ask for what we want or express how we feel
in a genuine and respectful way which does not threaten another person’s rights
or puts another person down.
✔ An assertive emotional response is almost certainly always in one’s best
interest as it is the response which is most likely to offer us what we want
without the risk of offending another person. There are instances,
however, in which an assertive response is inappropriate. For example,
in situations in which tempers are high, or if drugs are involved, being
assertive may not be enough for one to avoid harm.

MANAGING EMOTIONS

Emotional intelligence is described as the ability to understand different emotions

that we feel and manage them successfully. However, managing our emotions can be
quite stressful and we cannot always manage them. Healthy coping mechanisms can
help a person to think through one’s emotions. One of the examples that you could do is
when you feel angry, you should count 1-10 before saying or doing anything. These are
the different ways to manage your emotions:
1. Recognize the importance of expressing emotions –it can be harmful to a
person when we do not express our emotions. For example, people who are
 going through a depressive state or who are experiencing anxiety can
oftentimes be hot headed and easily irritated. If you want to control your
emotions, you must learn how to express them. Avoid repressing emotions,
and express them as you are experiencing them. Also, express them in a
healthy, non-destructive way.
2. Label your emotions –a lot of people cannot express their emotions properly
because they cannot label their emotions. Some people might say that they are
angry, when in fact what they are feeling is pain or annoyance.
3. Emotions are transient –once a person expresses his/her emotions, they will
slowly fade away and they will not last. The more we recognize and express
them, the more we can easily handle and get over them. The more repression
you do, the more an emotion will linger.
4. Cry out your emotions –crying your emotions out means that you have
recognized them and you are expressing them, however some people might
have a hard time crying, so try watching a sad video and cry it all out. You will
feel better after a good cry.
5. Laugh without reservation –laughing can help release hormones that could
be beneficial to your mood. Like they said, laughter is the best medicine.
Levels of Emotional Intelligence

How do you differentiate a person with a high level of emotional intelligence with a person
who falls lower on the scale? Examine yourself. Do you think you possess a high
emotional intelligence? Below are some of the characteristics of a person with high
emotional intelligence. Typically, those with high EI:

● Recognize both subtle and overt emotions easily (in themselves and others)
● Use the emotional information wisely
● Establish positive social relationships with others
● Avoid problems and altercations
● Tend to further harmony and cooperation

HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE

Emotional intelligence is a combination of several different skills:

1. Being Aware of Your Emotions
Most of us feel many different emotions throughout our day. Some feelings, such
as shock, lasts only a few seconds, while some others linger on. Lingering feelings
can create a mood such as happiness or sadness. Being able to recognize these
 every day feelings as well as being able to accurately label them is most basic of
all EQ skills. This allows for us to better regulate our own emotions.

2. Understanding How Others Feel and Why

We people have evolved for a very long time and one of the main factors of our
survival is the ability to understand one another. An essential part of EQ is the
ability to imagine oneself in another’s situation and the feelings which tend to
occur, as well as understanding what makes others feel the way that they do during
those situations. Being able to imagine another person’s emotions is called
EMPATHY. Empathy allows us to care about others and in-turn build strong
relationships. It also helps us maneuver our behavior around persons who may be
feeling intense emotions.

3. Managing Emotional Reactions

Oftentimes, it is important to be able to express how we are feeling. However, there
are times that our emotional reactions may be compromised because of how
intensely the emotions we are feeling are, such as rage. Emotional reactions must
be managed by knowing when, where, and how to express oneself. An intense
emotion such as rage, or even happiness, must be contained and expressed
appropriately in the proper place and time. A person who has good EQ recognizes
when an emotion has the possibility of damaging relationships if it so happens that
an emotional reaction comes off in a way that is disrespectful, downright rude, too
intense, too impulsive, or harmful.

4. Choosing Your Mood

The saying, “I can’t help how I feel”, may be romantic, but it isn’t necessarily
accurate. Part of EQ is managing our emotions through shifting our moods. Moods
are defined as emotional states which last only a bit. We have the ability to choose
whether or not our mood is appropriate for a situation. Choosing the right mood
can allow someone to be more motivated, focused, or continue pushing on without
 quitting. Persons with good EQ know that moods do not just happen to us. We
have the power of controlling them, and how we can get into that mood.

5 COMPONENTS OF EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE

According to Daniel Goleman, a leader in the field of Emotional Quotient, the following
are the four components of Emotional Intelligence:
1. Self-awareness – This is the core of one’s emotional intelligence. It is composed
of three competencies:
a. Emotional self-awareness – where you are able to interpret and identify your
emotions as well as acknowledge their effect on your work performance and
relationship with others.
b. Self-confidence – where you have a strong and positive sense of self-worth.
c. Accurate self-assessment – where you are able to provide a realistic evaluation
of your strengths and weaknesses.

2. Self-Management/Self-Regulation – This component is composed of five

different competencies and they are as follows:
a. Self-control – which is the ability to keep troublesome emotions and impulses
under control.
b. Adaptability – which is the flexibility to adjust from different challenges.
 c. Transparency – which is to uphold standards of honesty, integrity and manage
yourself and responsibilities.
d. Initiative – the readiness to grab opportunities and act on the deed.
e. Achievement – which is the guiding determination to attain internal standards
of excellence.

3. Internal Motivation/Self-motivation – A propensity to pursue goals with energy

and persistence. It is also self-improvement, strong drive to achieve, optimism
even in the face of failure.

4. Social Awareness - This is composed of three competencies:

a. Empathy – which is being sympathetic to others and take an active concern in
their problems.
b. Service Orientation – which is acknowledging and granting customer’s needs.
c. Organizational Awareness – this is the ability to interpret the flow of the
company, build networks and sail across the politics.

5. Relationship Management/Social Skills – This is composed of seven

competencies:
a. Visionary leadership – where you are able to inspire and lead individuals and
groups.
b. Conflict Management – where you are able to resolve disagreements and
develop resolutions.
c. Build Connections/Bonds – which is the ability to further and maintain a
relationship with others.
d. Develop Others – where you are able to strengthen and support the abilities of
others through feedback and guidance.
e. Teamwork and Collaboration – where you are able to encourage cooperation
and build teams.
 f. Change Catalyst – which is the ability to introduce new ideas and lead others
to a new direction.
g. Influence – which is the ability to implement convincing strategies with integrity
through clear communication skills.

SOURCES:

Cruz, T.M. & Cruz, E.B. (2016). Persona l Development. Mandaluyong,

Philippines: Books Atbp. Publishing Corp.

Serrano, A.O. (2016). Personal Development. Manila, Philippines: Unlimited

Books Library Services and Publishing Inc. Retrieved from:
http://schools.nyc.gov/NR/rdonlyres/

Ilag-Ramos, M. (2016) Moving Up: A Guide to Personal and Career Development.

Manila Philippines: Phoenix Publishing House Inc.

Cleofe, M. (2016) DIWA Senior High School Series: Personal Development.

Manila, Philippines: University Press of First Asia

<END OF LEARNING CONTENT 7>