The 7 types of Emotional Intelligence and their functions

Emotional Intelligence is the ability that allows us to understand our own emotions and those of others, as well as being able to adapt to different situations.

There are different types of Emotional Intelligence, and different psychologists have made different classifications about it. We will take into account if the ability to understand emotions refers to oneself (personal) or to other subjects (interpersonal) and if it is linked to stress management, adaptive skills or mood positive.

As with other abilities, you can work to enhance it, and some actions that we can carry out during our daily lives to favor it have been seen as useful.

In this article We will see the different types of Emotional Intelligence and their characteristics.

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What do we understand by Emotional Intelligence?

Intelligence assessment has evolved and developed over the years. At first, only general intelligence or that linked to the knowledge we acquired in the academic field was taken into account. But subsequently the range of skills involved has been expanded, taking into account other types of intelligences that are also important for the life of the subjects, as is the case of Intelligence Emotional.

Emotional Intelligence was first described by Peter Salovey and John Mayer, although the concept was developed by psychologist Daniel Goleman. This intelligence is defined as the ability to recognize and understand one's own emotions and those of others. It allows us to identify and distinguish different emotions, to use the information, sensations, that emotions produce in us to act or think in a certain way.

In short, Emotional Intelligence allows us to better adapt to our environment, since it gives us information, makes us aware of how the people around us feel and how we feel us. Thus facilitating us to live in harmony and act in a more appropriate way to the situation.

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Components of emotional intelligence

Emotional Intelligence is made up of 5 components. That is to say, there are 5 factors that are linked to Emotional Intelligence and that are present in the subjects that stand out for this type of intelligence. So let's see what they are and how each one is defined.

1. Emotional Self-Awareness

Emotional self-awareness refers to the ability of some subjects to know themselves, to identify and recognize their emotions and be aware of what they are feeling at each moment, how their emotional state can vary.

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2. emotional self-regulation

As the name indicates, the emotional self-regulation component refers to the ability that some people show to control their emotions. They are able to suppress the impulse to act if they know that this action will affect others or themselves. Thus, does not mean repressing our emotions but knowing how to modulate them so that they benefit us and do not affect us negatively.

3. Empathy

Empathy is the ability that allows us to understand the emotional state of the people around us and go further, putting ourselves in their place. We not only identify how you feel, but we understand and understand why you feel that way. Thus, this understanding gives us the possibility of acting in a more appropriate way, more in accordance with the situation, to try to achieve better communication with the other person, who feels understood.

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4. Motivation

Motivation is a fundamental state for the correct performance of people, so that they remain active and continue to progress and develop. Stay motivated, with goals that we want to achieve, allows us to show greater effort to adapt to new situations. Having goals is what helps us move forward, fighting for what we want.

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5. Social skills

The social skills are essential to be able establish good relationships with other people. In this way, the ability to emotionally understand others is also linked to a greater development of social skills.

Types of Emotional Intelligence

Different authors have focused on the study of intelligence, and more specifically on knowing and describing the different types of Emotional Intelligence. Below we will mention the main classes of Emotional Intelligence that are proposed.

Emotional Intelligence according to D. Goleman

We have already said that Goleman is the most recognized author in the study of Emotional Intelligence. This psychologist divides Emotional Intelligence into two types.

1. personal intelligence

This intelligence refers to the ability we have to emotionally understand ourselves. Be aware of how we feel and thus be able to act according to this self-knowledge to achieve a better state.

This kind of intelligence is related to three elements or capacities: self-awareness, the ability to be aware of oneself, to know what state we are in and how we feel; self-regulation that refers to the ability to control our own emotions or what we feel, not get carried away by it; and self-motivation, linked to the ability to stay active and strong enough to move forward and thus be able to achieve our goals.

2. Interpersonal intelligence

In this case, interpersonal intelligence refers to how people understand others and understand them, how we relate to them, There are two types of factors that are essential for this type of intelligence to take place: empathy, as we said, is the ability to understand the emotions of others and make them our own, put ourselves in its place; and social skills, which allow us to relate to other people in an appropriate way, from self-respect and to others, being assertive.

Emotional Intelligence according to Reuven Bar-On

Another notable author in the field of Emotional Psychology is Reuven Bar-On. This psychologist posits Emotional Intelligence as the ability to understand ourselves, to relate correctly to others and to be able to adapt to different events, overcome adversities. Likewise, she distinguishes 5 types of Emotional Intelligence.

1. intrapersonal skills

Intrapersonal skills are the ability to regulate and manage our own emotions. The way we identify our emotions, understand them, regulate them and express them. Thus, this type of intelligence, proposed by Bar-On, can be related to the personality defined by Goleman.

2. interpersonal skill

Interpersonal skills allow us to relate appropriately with others, express ourselves correctly, being assertive and understanding how they feel. It would therefore be linked to the interpersonal intelligence proposed by Goleman.

3. stress management

Stress, understood as a reaction that generates tension, keeping us physically active, produces great discomfort in the subjects who suffer from it. For this reason it is important to learn to regulate and control it. As we have already pointed out, emotional self-regulation is very important to maintain a good emotional state. Thus, we could define this type of Emotional Intelligence as the one that allows us to regulate and manage our stress level, very useful for example in the workplace.

4. adaptation skills

Another type of Emotional Intelligence according to Bar-On is related to the ability to adapt to the different situations that occur in our lives. One of the key skills to be able to adapt is flexibility, be able to act differently depending on the situation. As we have already seen, Emotional Intelligence allows us to be aware of our emotions and those of others and thus act according to them, adapting ourselves.

5. positive mood

Positive mood is related to greater emotional stability and maintenance if we compare it with emotions. This state allows us to act in a better way and show a greater predisposition to carry out the different activities. Also relating to a type of Emotional Intelligence.

How to train and enhance Emotional Intelligence

Although there are people who show greater Emotional Intelligence than others, this ability can be trained and enhanced. There are some activities that we can carry out in our day to day that can be useful to us.

1. Write the positive things that have happened to you

Sometimes we are not aware of the good things that happen to us, as we focus only on our concerns. To more easily recognize positive events, it can help us to spend a few minutes each day writing down the good things that have happened to us.

2. Practice active and empathic listening

When we talk to someone it is not enough to hear what they say to us, it is necessary to listen and do it actively, which means going beyond what they communicate to us, iTrying to understand the emotions and thoughts that relate behind your speech.

3. Express the positive things

In today's society it is easier for us to express what we don't like about someone than to tell them what we do like. It is also important to communicate what we like about the other person, in this way we favor a better relationship and a better state of the other subject and our own.

4. take time for yourself

An important element of Emotional Intelligence is self-awareness, knowing oneself. To achieve this purpose, it is essential that we dedicate time to ourselves in order to get to know each other. It is basic to know how we feel and to be able to reflect on why we feel that way..

5. stay motivated

Motivation is also necessary for the development of Emotional Intelligence. Set yourself the objectives, goals, that you want to achieve in order to stay active. It is advisable to set both long-term and short-term, more affordable goals.