Focus on Emotional Intelligence Not Your IQ

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I went back to college and took my intro psychology class during the fall semester in 2016.

I spent the decade reading books, educating myself with only nonfiction books primarily based on psychology, sociology, history, political science, mental health, self-help and many others.

Focus on Emotional Intelligence, Not Your IQ

I went to college ten years after graduating high school enrolled in psychology and later education.

I went into the course assuming that people either think only emotionally or analytically and different variations of the two depending on the situation.

I had my own cognitive bias towards how people think.

I only think analytically, and either didn’t read carefully enough or ignored how and why people think the way they do.

Around the start of the psychology course, it taught people how to think more analytically and scientifically.

Focus on EQ, Not Your IQ

I learned that I couldn’t remember too much more scientifically and analytically than I already do, but most people can.

I would also learn that there are analytical and emotional thinking, but there are many different levels and other thinking genres.

What I realized during the course was that they should have focused on a classroom full of already-intelligent minds, not so much on learning more analytically but emotionally.

Scientists have looked at Intelligence Quotient (IQ) – intelligence quotient psychology definition – tests to measure logic and reasoning and how fast a person can solve problems.

Although IQ tests only measure specific aspects of intelligence and can’t help you find a good job or get straight A’s in schools, your IQ doesn’t make you a good businessman either.

Since 1990, intelligence has expanded its definition to include more aspects of learning.

For example, emotional intelligence (EI) has been distinguished as a new category in classifying intelligence since the ’90s.

According to the dictionary, emotional intelligence is a person’s ability to regulate and recognize emotion and problem-solving in social situations.

Does EQ and IQ Test Have Any Validity? 

To get a fairer measure of a person’s intelligence, doctors and researchers should give them both an IQ and EQ test. Common factors that make up a person’s IQ are learning and adapting to change, using language, planning and strategizing, using logic to solve problems, and understanding abstract ideas.

The factors that make a person’s EQ are their ability to sense emotion in other people and within themselves, using that awareness to influence your behaviour.

Having a high Emotional Intelligence, a person is most likely to find it easier to: have empathy for others, have reasonable control over your impulses, have effective communication, identify emotions within others and yourself, help resolve conflicts with other people.

Researchers and scientists debate whether IQ and EQ tests have any validity behind them.

Many factors can influence the outcomes of these tests, leading people to question whether these tests are measuring the abilities they claim.

Some factors may give false EQ and IQ test results: limited or no education, a trauma in childhood, economic status, environmental factors, little nutrition, and social inequalities.

These are the most commonly used IQ tests:

• the most common Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale
• Wechsler Individual Achievement Test (common)
• the Woodcock-Johnson III Tests for Cognitive Abilities
• the Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale

The above most common IQ tests almost always measure two different intellectual abilities, known as:

Crystallized intelligence definition– a type of intelligence based on your knowledge and verbal skills and improves in most people as you get older.

Fluid intelligence definition is the type of intelligence for your capability to have abstract thinking, reason, and problem-solving skills.

Tests that measure Emotional Intelligence that is most widely used:

• The Situational Tests of Emotional Management
• The Situational Tests of Emotional Understanding
• The Mayer-Salovey-Caruso Emotional Intelligence Tests

These EQ tests will distinguish between your:

• Trait intelligence definition – a self-reported exploration of your standard behaviours.
• Ability intelligence definition – how well you solve problems using emotional and social skills.

Emotional Intelligence tests will rank your capabilities in five areas:

• Empathy
• Motivation
• Social Skills
• Self-Awareness
• Self-Regulation

Emotional Intelligence (EQ)

Emotional Intelligence (EQ) has been linked to better and healthy relationships and job success.

In addition, some studies suggest that emotional intelligence might help you handle stress better, and you can recover faster from acute stress.

Both IQ and EQ can radically affect your achievements and quality of life.

Developing a better understanding of EQ and IQ can increase your odds of success in all areas of life.

Read a lot more and read every day for at least 30 minutes a day.

Reading has shown in studies that reading can help advance your social thinking skills, proven to help build empathy.

Reading allows the reader to submerge themselves in the experiences of others.

Whether they are people telling biographies or other nonfiction, the reader may prefer their character to be fictional.