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Emotional Intelligence As A Skill

Decent Essays

Since the emergence of emotional intelligence, many theorists have contributed to the understanding and development of the concept. Of those, Mayer and Salovey were the first to introduce emotional intelligence as a skill; recognizing it as the capacity to identify, reason, problem solve, and enhance thinking through the use of emotion (Mayer and Salovey, 1990). Termed as the ability theory, the model also proposes that individuals vary in their emotional processing abilities and that they are able further develop and refine these skills promoting both emotional and intellectual growth (Akerjordet and Severinsson, 2007). By using the four branches of emotional ability, individuals are able to improve the management of emotions and interpersonal connections (Mayer, Salovey, and Caruso, 2011).
As previously noted, the ability theory contains four branches, perception, assimilation, understanding, and regulation, which are developed to help an individual become more emotionally intelligent (Mayer and Salovey, 1997). Described as the most important level, perception utilizes nonverbal reception and expression of emotion; without this basic skill, the other branches would not be possible. In their 2011 study, Collins, Schrimmer, Diamond, and Burke examined the relationship between nonverbal communication skills and rapport among medical students and their patients. Interviews from 19 medical students and residents were videotaped and assessed using a nonverbal item checklist

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