- What happens to our most rational side if we let the most emotional side control us?
For centuries, our culture has had this dualistic perspective that pits reason against emotion. We often talk about two types of behavioural profiles: the first is impulsive, driven by emotions; the second, analytical, driven by reason. In reality, this dualism does not exist.
When I give an introductory talk, I usually start with the mistaken theory of emotions. This theory has been widely accepted and disseminated in our culture since the times of Ancient Greece with Aristotle and Plato, through the Middle Ages, with Descartes, and expressed in countless cultural productions for centuries.
The truth is that our reasoning system bolivia phone data developed as an extension of the emotional system. People who tend to make good decisions do so not because they keep their emotions at bay, but because they rely on what their emotional system tells them. Emotions are the key to reasoning.
Well, I think we all do what we can to manage our emotions. It doesn't matter if we are sometimes more reserved and we hold back, or if we are usually more impulsive. The balance lies in putting things into perspective a little. If everything is going well, enjoy it, and if things get complicated in something or with someone, then it will pass, it's not the end of the world.
A former teacher of mine used to say “every evil lasts a hundred years” whenever we were feeling down about something, and I’m sure that attitude she projected helped many of us learn to take things lightly.
"Age is a key factor due to accumulated experience."
- Is there any way to calculate emotional intelligence?
There are many instruments for measuring emotional intelligence, but the really good ones are based on a consolidated theory, have adequate psychometric properties and are applied according to previously defined criteria. In other words, they have a solid theoretical basis, have been widely tested and measure what they actually claim to measure.
I think the best way to get a proper measurement is to consult someone with specific training .
- What benefits does emotional learning have for schools?
It improves interaction between people. There is a very relevant scientific study that began in 1938, in fact it is the longest study in history (75 years and still going on). The Study of Adult Development at Harvard University looked at the lives of more than 700 people as they grew up. It also studied the lives of their children and their families.
After several generations of assigned researchers, hundreds of thousands of hours of analysis and tens of thousands of pages written, the main message is that good relationships make us happier and healthier. If there is a recipe for happiness, it is in interpersonal relationships. So it is essential that we manage our emotions with versatility, since they are the key to good communication.
- Advice for teachers.
Don't take advice from anyone who offers it. They usually don't have a clue.