Emotional Intelligence - Book Reviews
Emotional Intelligence (By Daniel Goleman)
There are books written by scientists explaining the finer points of their research. Books written by self-help “gurus” with practical step-by-step advice. And then there are books like “Emotional Intelligence”…Which are neither one thing, nor the other.
Whether you’re thinking about reading Emotional Intelligence to gain a deeper understanding of the science or simply looking for concrete strategies that will help you manage your emotional states (or the emotions of those around you) here are some things you should know…
Emotional Intelligence And Science…
If you’re strictly interested in the scientific aspects of emotional intelligence, Daniel Goleman isn’t the expert…He didn’t even coin the phrase! The men who actually coined it—Dr. Jack Mayer and Peter Salovey—don’t get a mention in Goleman’s book until page forty-seven.
Here’s how Mayer and Salovey defined emotional intelligence in 1990: “The subset of social intelligence that involves the ability to monitor one's own and others' feelings and emotions, to discriminate among them and to use this information to guide one's thinking and actions.” In a nutshell: Being aware of and managing emotion in ourselves and others, and using it to guide our thoughts and behavior.
The book begins by reviewing the anatomy and physiology of the emotional regions of the brain. It draws largely on the work of neuroscientist Professor Joseph LeDoux who, in a series of amazing scientific experiments, systematically mapped the brain’s fear circuit.
Goleman describes in some detail how the emotion circuits in our brain spring into action before the same sensory information has even reached the prefrontal cortex (the “thinking” part of our brain). This means that, by virtue of the way our brain is hardwired, we cannot completely control our emotional states. Goleman argues this crucial point extremely well.
The author also reviews the scientific evidence suggesting that emotional intelligence and IQ are separate parameters that can be independently fine-tuned for improved performance. For example, in one study, volunteers were asked to carry a beeper and record their emotional state every time it sounded. In addition, each subject took an IQ test. The conclusion drawn from this experiment was that there is no relationship between a person’s emotional mastery and their IQ. Once again, Goleman explains this vital point extremely well.
(Frankly, this was one of the research papers that led to me begin teaching my Perspective PowerTM strategies. By learning how to manage your perspective you can optimize both your EQ and IQ.)
Finally, Goleman discusses the role of emotional intelligence in medicine, education, addiction, depression and rage.
Emotional Intelligence And Practical Application…
In “Emotional Intelligence” Goleman tacks self-motivation onto the original Mayer and Salovey definition (above)…which began an important cultural shift. The undoubtedly catchy term “emotional intelligence” has grabbed the fickle attention of the corporate world.
And so now the term has become somewhat of a culturally-loaded catchall phrase synonymous with any kind of anger, anxiety, guilt (or other toxic emotion) management technique. However, in “Emotional Intelligence” Goleman gives very little “how to” advice. If you’re seeking step-by-step emotional control strategies…look elsewhere.
Emotional Intelligence: Yes or No?
Goleman’s book is long-winded, but not erudite. (In general, a little wordy to be easily understood without having the depth of true scientific understanding.) Frankly, if I hadn’t been familiar with the work of Professor LeDoux, I would have found it tough to get into.
For a deeper understanding of the neuroanatomy and neurophysiology of the emotional brain, check out Joseph LeDoux’s book: The Emotional Brain. (Be warned, The Emotional Brain is not an easy read…but it’s an extremely satisfying one.
Overall, Emotional Intelligence provided a useful summary of the neuroscience and behavioral research into this fascinating area. However, there was little concrete, practical advice on managing your emotions. For no-nonsense advice on managing your emotions check out "How To Refuse To Make Yourself Miserable About Anything...Yes Anything!" (...And, of course, my stuff!)
