“There is growing recognition that emotional intelligence—like any skill—can be used for good or evil. So if we’re going to teach emotional intelligence in schools and develop it at work, we need to consider the values that go along with it and where it’s useful."
As shown in several of our blogs, we at Play For Peace love to research the literature that surrounds some of our key concepts and interests. Today we’d like to discuss an article by Adam Grant, published last year in The Atlantic. Titled “The Dark Side of Emotional Intelligence," Grant considers the pros and cons of teaching the systematic analysis and development of one’s emotional awareness. Popularized in 1995 by psychologist Daniel Goleman, emotional intelligence is taught in a variety of fields: education, medicine, finance, and more.
The premise: if we learn to manage our emotions, we will then act more responsibly. There is, unfortunately, no proof that emotional intelligence actually curtails negative behavior. As Grant points out, both Martin Luther King Jr. and Adolf Hitler were masters at managing emotions: skillfully finessing intonation and gesture for maximum effect (para. 1 -3, 2014). Both were captivating speakers. Research suggests that the benefits of teaching emotional intelligence depend on the circumstances surrounding those teachings. A recent study with a healthcare company showed no relationship between emotional intelligence and helping--the desire to help others is not a skill, but rather a value judgement (Grant, para. 13, 2014). The research does suggest, however, that learning emotional intelligence increases the likelihood that we will challenge perceived wrongs by speaking up and sharing thoughts for improvement (Grant, para. 14, 2014). The value of emotional intelligence varies in the work world as well. As Grant notes:
"In jobs that required extensive attention to emotions, higher emotional intelligence translated into better performance. In jobs that involved fewer emotional demands, the results reversed” (para. 11, 2014).
For these reasons, it is important to understand the fallibility of emotional intelligence: we can use it for empathic means, or to manipulate others. "There is growing recognition that emotional intelligence—like any skill—can be used for good or evil. So if we’re going to teach emotional intelligence in schools and develop it at work, we need to consider the values that go along with it and where it’s actually useful” (Grant, para. 17, 2014). How does PFP use emotional intelligence?
We work with people in an effort to bring compassion and understanding to what are often troubled communities. For us, emotional intelligence is taught in a positive environment--in the context of compassion and understanding. We also offer a variety of activities. Sometimes we play totally untethered: engaged in games, free from thought. Other times our participants hold in-depth discussions on how these activities affect them. In other words, growth never arises from one thing: it is a combination of various activities, intentions, and goals. Emotional intelligence, taught with care, is one avenue for growth.
REFERENCES 1. Grant, Adam. (2014, January 2). “The Dark Side of Emotional Intelligence.” The Atlantic. Retrieved from: http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2014/01/the-dark-side-of-emotional-intelligence/282720/
