WHAT+IS+EMOTIONAL+INTELLIGENCE?

__SO WHAT IS EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE?__
For the purposes of our work in education, emotional intelligence allows pupils to develop their awareness of themselves and of others: I know what I feel I can say what I feel I am learning how to  manage my feelings  ||  || **__ MY AWARENESS OF OTHERS __** I know how they feel I can say how they feel I am learning how to  manage how they feel  || This definition of Emotional Intelligence (EI) was developed for 7 year olds and was given to us by Dr Elizabeth Morris during the EWES group training sessions. It very neatly sums up the essence of what we are trying to understand and develop. It would seem that EI requires a high level of self awareness combined with an understanding of those around us. Once that understanding has been established we then need to be able to act and alter our responses accordingly.
 * **__ MY AWARENESS OF MYSELF __**

We live in a time where it is becoming increasingly acceptable to talk about emotions and feelings. Their relevance and importance for all aspects of life, not only in our relationships with family and friends, but also when dealing with our colleagues and clients in the workplace is now clearly acknowledged. It is recognised as good business sense to take on board EI. Companies large and small are incorporating this into their training programmes as they are aware that it can lead to more successful and therefore profitable working practices.

**__WHERE HAS EI COME FROM?__**
EI has developed from a variety of sources:- Brain research ( see separate document) Psychoneuroimmunology ( PNI) the study of psychological effects on the immune system Educational Research Psychiatric Research Psychotherapy and social and cognitive psychology

__EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE AND MULTIPLE INTELLIGENCES__

 * As practitioners within the field of education we have been aware for many years of the idea that there are more than one form of intelligence. We tend to think of these in terms of learning styles – principally visual, auditory and kinaesthetic. Howard Gardner who is the Hobbs Professor of Cognition and Education at Harvard Graduate School of Education proposed that there are many intelligences each being a process carried out by dedicated neural networks. In his book ‘Intelligence Reframed’ published in 1999 he asserts that there are at least 8 forms of intelligence including interpersonal intelligence i.e. the awareness of others and intrapersonal intelligence – the awareness of self. (See the FAQ section on [|www.Howardgardner.com] for more information). || [[image:http://www.preschools4all.com/image-files/howard-gardner.jpg width="126" height="169"]] ||


 * [[image:http://www.pro-manchester.co.uk/assets/goleman2.jpg width="134" height="187"]] || Many other psychologists and theorists including Peter Salovey and John Mayer and Daniel Goleman in his book ‘Emotional Intelligence’ maintain that IQ is not enough, that individuals need to have good emotional literacy skills that work in tandem with their intellectual brain in order to flourish. In his book ‘Working with Emotional Intelligence’ Goleman demonstrates that cognitive abilities and technical expertise whilst being important, are not the only keys to success in the workplace. The high levels of self awareness and understanding of others shown by emotionally literate individuals are vital and can matter twice as much. ||


 * Our goal for our students is for them to be the best they can be and to reach the top of Maslow’s Triangle (see separate document). To do this we must not only provide them with the facts and figures and technical skills, but we must help them to develop their emotional skills. This is already happening in schools in many ways e.g. through nurture groups, co op learning, health and well being classes, restorative practice, solution oriented schools and of course through the Curriculum for Excellence in Scotland. || [[image:http://dinamehta.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/800px-maslows_hierarchy_of_needssvg.png width="404" height="248"]] ||

**__CONCLUSION__**
· Liking everyone · Being nice · Navel gazing · Warm personality · Being sympathetic · Letting it all ‘hang out’ · IQ || Emotional Intelligence ** is: ** · Noticing feelings of self and others · Paying attention to those feelings · Giving them significance · Thinking about them and then… · Taking them into account in deciding how to act. ||
 * Emotional intelligence is ** not: **

**__FURTHER READING__**
Please visit this wikispace for further information about Emotional Intelligence, learning, achievement and attainment: []