Topic 4: Which, if any, is more important in your opinion and why: Cognitive Intelligence (IQ) or Emotinal Intelligence (EI)

General intelligence is defined as "One’s overall capacity to think rationally, act purposefully and deal effectively with one’s environment”. ( Wechsler 1958). However intelligence is then divided into cognitive intelligence which is also know as your IQ or emotional intelligence which is EI.

Anything cognitive is the use of your brain, cognitive intelligence is the ability to reason, plan things, problem solve, think abstractly, comprehend complex ideas and to learn quickly from your experiences. (Cooke 2013). Emotional intelligence is the opposite, it is more of the way we socialise. Bar-On define emotional intelligence as “To effectively understand and express ourselves, to understand and relate well with others, and to successfully cope with daily demands, challenges and pressures”. (Bar-On 2006).

Although both kinds of intelligence are important I would rather have emotional/social intelligence because it is used in everyday life when we work and interact with people. Stys and Brown (2004) have found that having a higher level of Emotional Intelligence can be a predictor for life satisfaction, healthy psychological adaptation, positive interactions with peers and family and also higher parental warmth. it also tells us that having lower emotional intelligence can lead to violent behaviour, illegal use of drugs and alcohol and participating in delinquent behaviour.

There are three models of emotional intelligence known as The Mayer Salovey model, The Goleman Model and The Bar-on model. (The Encyclopaedia of Applied Psychology). The Bar-on model is the one we focused on in our lecture, it defines EI as "A cross-section of interrelated emotional and social competencies, skills and facilitators that impact intelligent behaviour." The model consists of five composite scales which are 1. Intrapersonal Skills (self-awareness and self-expression), 2. Interpersonal Skills (social awareness and interaction), 3. Adaptability (change management), 4. Stress Management (emotional management and control), 5. General Mood (self-motivation). (Cooke 2013) Here is a link that will allow you to further understand this method http://www.eiconsortium.org/reprints/bar-on_model_of_emotional-social_intelligence.htm

References: Bar-On, R. (2006) The Bar-On model of emotional-social intelligence (ESI).Psicothema, 18,
supl., 13-25.
Cooke, D. (2013) Communicatons and the learning environment. [lecture notes] Emotional Intelligence. Institute of Technology Blanchardstown, Lecture theatre 1, 26th Novembar 2013.

Stys, Y. & Brown, S. L. (2004) A Review of the Emotional Intelligence Literature and Implications

for Corrections, [online] Correctional Service of Canada.

Wechsler, D. (1958)The Measurement and Appraisal of Adult Intelligence4th ed. Baltimore:
Williams & Wilkins.