4 Branches Of Emotional Intelligence

by Raymund Tamayo

In the previous post, we discussed the four components of emotional intelligence. They include 1.) Self-consciousness, which dealt with being aware of one's own emotions); 2.) Self-control, which is managing one's own emotions; 3.) Sensitivity, which is being aware of the emotions of others; and 4.) Sociability, which is managing relationship with others.

In this blog post, we will now talk about the four branches of emotional intelligence. These four branches were first identified by American psychologists Peter Salovey and John D. Mayer, who had been studying emotional intelligence since 1990.

What are they?

1. Perceiving Emotions

This is the capacity to sense and interpret emotions via a person's face, voice, and body language, including one's own. This is perhaps the most fundamental attribute of emotional intelligence because it simplifies all the other branches.

2. Using Emotions

This is the capacity to use one's own emotions to stimulate reasoning and other cognitive actions, such as thinking and rationalizing. An emotionally intelligent individual has the ability to take full advantage of shifting attitudes, temperaments, and dispositions with the intention of adapting to the present situation.

3. Understanding Emotions

This is the capacity to understand the meaning of different kinds of emotions and to know the complex connections of these emotions to one another. It embodies an individual's sensitivity to the tiniest of changes among emotions. It is also the skill to familiarize one's self in describing the way emotions grow during the course of time.

4. Managing Emotions

This is the capacity to handle and cope with personal emotions and the emotions of others. An emotionally intelligent individual is able to control these emotions, including undesirable ones, regulating his own, responding applicably to others, and using them suitably to accomplish a goal or objective.

These four branches are based on the Ability Model conceptualized by Salovey and Mayer, which says human emotions (both self and others) are effective sources of data to help an individual figure out and negotiate social circumstances.

Each person has a different skill level when it comes to these four branches, as every person is unique in their efficiency and speed of processing information in an emotional way.

Because it is a skill, emotional intelligence can be developed and improved. And just like any other skill, it will take a lot of practice to raise it to a level that will greatly benefit you and the people around you.

See you again in the next post! Don't forget to write your insights in the comments section. Ciao for now!