Emotional intelligence (EI) refers to the ability to understand and manage your own emotions while also recognizing and responding to the emotions of others. According to psychologists Dr. Jaime Zuckerman and Dr. Jenny Shields, EI is broken down into four core skills: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, and relationship management.
Low emotional intelligence can manifest in various ways. For example:
* Getting stressed easily due to a deficit in emotion regulation
* Avoiding emotional conversations because of difficulty articulating emotions or interpreting others’
* Making jokes at someone’s expense, which points to a deficit in cognitive empathy
* Being oblivious to others’ feelings and struggling to read non-verbal cues
* Holding grudges for too long, demonstrating a failure of cognitive reframing
Emotional intelligence is not always easy to spot, especially when certain behaviors fly under the radar. However, by recognizing these signs, you can take steps to improve your emotional intelligence.
To start, focus on increasing self-awareness and recognizing patterns in your emotions. Practice naming emotions more precisely, such as distinguishing between irritated, disappointed, frustrated, or ashamed. Lastly, seeking therapy from a professional can help you work on improving your self-awareness, social skills, empathy, and motivation.
By understanding the signs of low emotional intelligence and taking steps to improve it, you can become more emotionally intelligent and navigate tense situations with ease.
Source: https://parade.com/living/behaviors-of-people-with-low-emotional-intelligence-according-to-psychologists