The nature of emotional intelligence has fascinated researchers for decades. Scientists measure, structure, examine positives, seek out negative ones, crystallize knowledge of practical use, try to implement techniques in the short term and for the long term.
Correlating theories about emotional intelligence developed in the past, the researchers propose a nine-level EQ model. The model includes the parameter of emotional intelligence abilities (awareness and control) and the EQ trait function (mood and tendencies). The pyramid also uses the principles of intrapersonal and interpersonal intelligence according to Gardner.
The pyramid consists of 9 steps:
Emotional incentives
Emotion recognition
Self-awareness
Self-management
Social awareness
Social skills
Self-actualization
Transcendence
Emotional unity
Emotional incentives are at the heart of the EQ pyramid. The whole world consists of information signals, which we divide into categories to make it easier and better to understand. When an event occurs, a sensory stimulus arrives at the person. Further, the scheme looks like this: sensory incentive – formation of an emotional stimulus (using cognitive mechanisms) – determination of emotion – emotional reaction – behavior. Emotional incentive is the first step of the EQ model due to the ease of perception and detection by consciousness.
Emotion recognition – the ability to decipher sensory manifestations, your own and other people, using non-verbal channels (face, body, voice). The accuracy of the decoding is directly related to whether we can express emotions and recognize them. Scientists Elfenbein and Ambadi say the ability to recognize emotions is “a well-documented component of emotional intelligence.” It is also a predominant part of social life, helping to build communication of a different nature.
Self-awareness is a clear understanding of the components of your personality. Here we include strengths and weaknesses, beliefs and attitudes, thoughts and motives. Developing this level of EQ, you can observe how changing thoughts, emotions, and hence actions. Daniel Goleman talks about self-awareness as self-worth and self-confidence. Self-awareness is an important link, without which it is difficult to move to the next level of the pyramid – self-government.
Self-control is the ability to control emotional reactions without succumbing to impulsivity. The quality that makes us flexible and responsive increases the variability of actions, increasing the productivity of decisions. Controlling emotions – the ability to recognize them and consciously change behavior.
Social awareness is a stage aimed at interacting with the environment. It is the ability to identify the feelings of other people, understand their needs, and manage relationships. A socially aware person understands his reactions to situations, interacts effectively with other people, using empathy, understanding, and acceptance. This also includes the intellectual ability to distinguish and label the emotions of the environment.
Social skills are anything that refers to successful interactions between people. It is the ability to inspire, influence, build connections, catalyze change, take responsibility, resolve conflicts, cooperate, help, be a team player and leader, tune in to the feelings of others, react to emotions and develop communication strategies based on the situation.
Self-actualization (according to Maslow) – the realization of personal potential; striving for development and gaining experience. So, we have reached the level of the pyramid when the previous six stages are completed and a person is gaining an irresistible desire to do something, to offer the world and receive in return. Being at the stage of self-actualization, a person can feel a kinship with other people, understand the nature and universality of emotions, which helps in communication with any people of the world.
Transcendence is when a person is fully realized and feels the power to help other people achieve the same. The level of transcendence presupposes a comprehensive level of consciousness associated with a sense of well-being, understanding of the world, and a sense of significance. Plato speaks of such self-transcendence as the experience of wisdom that comes in integration with the irreversible processes of life – aging, death. In this case, high self-esteem will manifest itself in an interest in exploring the world, helping others, a desire to find meaning in spiritual life.
Emotional unity is the highest level of the EQ pyramid. It is the positive dynamics of emotional growth that give strength to move to this top. Emotionally unity is harmony, a feeling of inner strength to change circumstances, surroundings. This is a persistent state of self-love, pouring out in various forms – helping others, caring for nature, loved ones. It is a feeling of warmth, life spark, and inseparability. As Parmenides writes: “Being is not generated and is indestructible, whole, the same type and unshakable, and complete. And there was not and will not be, because now everything is together, one, continuous … ”
Such a model of emotional intelligence becomes a useful tool for evaluating EQ, analytics of various aspects of life. With the help of the hierarchical structure of the pyramid, it becomes easier to understand how and where to move in general to achieve emotional unity – the highest goal of EQ. Climbing the steps of the pyramid, not only emotional skills are developed, but also mental abilities are improved, which qualitatively improves life.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5981239/
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