Thousands of years ago, human beings began to sense that there is something we now call intelligence. This set of mental abilities has a concrete and a highly abstract facet, which means that it takes the form of any day-to-day action, such as doing accounting, but it also makes itself felt beyond each one of them. It is present in a latent way in us, so that it reflects tendencies in our behavior: whoever is skilled at performing one mathematical operation tends to be skilled at performing others as well.

But the fact that intelligence is an abstract latent trait has generated a great deal of debate when it comes to defining its limits and giving a definition to the concept. What exactly does it mean to be intelligent? The concept of Emotional Intelligence helps us to grasp new dimensions of intelligent behaviour.

Discovering Emotional Intelligence

Probably because of the pressures of the labour market, which gives more value to some tasks than others depending on their ability to generate profitable products, those skills related to mathematics and the use of language have been the central pillar of what we understand as intelligence.

But in recent decades ideas have appeared that question this vision of the intelligent, considering it to be limited. Intelligence is a set of different “bundles” of mental abilities , yes, but some of them cannot be measured by solving exercises with a predetermined correct answer that must be written down on a sheet of paper. EQ is an example of this, because it is based on the regulation and interpretation of emotional states.

To shed more light on the nature of this type of mental aptitude, on this occasion we interviewed Mª Teresa Mata Massó, general health psychologist at the Mensalus Institute in Barcelona, and expert in emotional intelligence.

How would you explain in a nutshell what EQ is?

Emotional Intelligence is that part of intelligence that pays special attention to the functionality of our system of thoughts, emotions and actions, with the aim of ensuring its sustainability. If what I feel is not in accordance with what I think, if what I do is not faithful to what I believe, if what I end up exteriorizing is far from who I think I am, it will be difficult for me to feel good about myself and others (that which is called emotional well-being).

Statistically, which aspects of our lives help us to predict having a higher or lower EQ? For example, scoring high in it makes us more likely to…

Having EQ makes us people who give themselves the opportunity to choose according to the circumstances, their beliefs, their values, their state of mind, etc. Nothing is determined and therefore the decision is always possible. This offers freedom to the individual, allowing him to move in a coherent and fluid way. Therefore, if we enjoy emotional intelligence it is more possible that we function better and achieve our goals and not at any price.

How can we use EQ training in the context of psychotherapy?

In psychotherapy we are constantly analyzing and training the individual’s EQ. Knowing exactly the elements that make it up will help us to have clearer therapeutic objectives.

For example, we may aim to work on assertiveness since the patient communicates from a passive style and has difficulty setting limits. Well, what will we train about assertiveness? The reasons why this person finds it difficult to say no? His assertive rights and, with it, his self-concept and self-esteem? His difficulty in accepting criticism and his tendency to personalize? The possibility of analysis from a more objective position (the role of spectator), etc.

If we know in depth the elements that make up this part of intelligence, we will be able to create intervention strategies that pursue very specific objectives and not remain on the surface.

What kind of psychological problems does having worked on these kinds of mental skills help the most?

There are no specific psychological problems for which EQ is more necessary, as it is always necessary. Depending on the problem, we will work more on one skill or another. For this reason, from the training in Psychotherapy and Emotional Intelligence we emphasize the importance of carrying out a diagnostic hypothesis and creating clinical hypotheses that allow us to work and pursue specific objectives as I explained in the previous question.

Could you give an example of how EQ helps us to change our perspective on our problems?

Developing EQ means questioning certain “comfort zones” from which we feel safe (but not comfortable) and discovering what exists outside. To do this, it is necessary to contemplate new points of view, put into practice new ways of doing things, create new thoughts, feel new ways of being, etc.

This is only possible if we enjoy mental flexibility or, as I like to define it: emotional plasticity.

Emotional Intelligence allows to increase the capacity to create and restructure. We prove this with techniques that highlight emotional plasticity from the creation of untried solutions. One example is the dynamics with LEGO construction parts. The work of manipulating pieces as an answer to a mobilizing question (carried out by the therapist) awakens spontaneous cognitive responses and less based on “the known” or “the repeated”. This type of exercise offers useful and highly graphic information to the patient.

To assess how psychological therapy can benefit from EQ-based interventions, it must be clear whether in general everyone can train these skills. Is this the case? And from what age can these skills be worked on in patients?

We must clarify that EQ is made, not born, so we can all train it throughout life, there is no age.
When working, the important thing is to know the specific needs of that person and, of course, enter into who that person is in order to understand how it has shaped its system of thoughts and emotions. Life experiences, emotional inheritance, personality traits and their current moment will give us clues to understand how they build reality and what elements can help them improve their functionality.

Finally… How do emotionally intelligent people usually deal with the emotion of sadness?

Accepting that it is a useful emotion, just like all other emotions. We need the emotion to understand who we are and who the people around us are. We can’t live well without this GPS, we’d be totally lost. Sadness, fear, anger, … are guides to life.

How to train in Emotional Intelligence?

One of the positive aspects of training in EQ is that the skills we acquire by polishing this type of mental process are applicable to any area of life. Regardless of the conditions in which we live, perfecting them will produce a significant change, since our own and other people’s emotions are something inherent to life.

If you are interested in this type of learning program, the Mensalus Institute’s Expert in Emotional Intelligence online course can meet your needs. The course starts on 17 September 2018 and ends on 17 November of the same year. It consists of theoretical and practical classes, audiovisual learning material, virtual classroom and supervision by a tutor. Registration is now open, so if you are interested in signing up or obtaining more information, you can do so through the Mensalus website or through the contact details you will find by clicking on this link.