HW280 - Impact of Emotional Intelligence on Health and Wellness

HW280 Mapping The Mind-Body Divide

Discussion Overview

Impact of Emotional Intelligence on Health and Wellness

In the reading, Goleman makes the case for "emotional intelligence" being the strongest indicator of human success, particularly the ability to love and be loved by friends, partners, and family members. He outlines critical skills that are necessary to develop strong emotional intelligence, including self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, mood management, and social skills, including empathy. Goleman goes on to explain the benefits of having emotional intelligence and describes the potentially disastrous and tragic consequences of failure to apply emotional intelligence.

Respond to one (1) of the questions below. Please specify which option you are addressing in the first line of your post.

Option 1: Locate a recent news story that illustrates 1) how a lack of emotional intelligence can have negative health or wellness consequences or 2) the benefits of strong emotional intelligence for health or wellness. Briefly summarize the story, noting the evidence for emotional intelligence, or a lack of it. End your post by describing how you think the skills that comprise emotional intelligence at the personal level are related to societal wellness and discord. Be sure to provide a reference to the news story and a link if it is available online.

Option 2: Explain the extent to which you believe that the skills comprising emotional intelligence can be taught and learned. Discuss at least one published source that supports your position. Provide a reference to that source.

Option 3: Think of an experience in your personal or professional life in which another person’s emotional intelligence, or a lack of it, impacted you. Describe the situation and explain how emotional intelligence was involved. Do not give any details (like names, titles, etc.) that would allow others to identify people in your post. Explain some specific areas of emotional intelligence that the person in your post could improve upon or describe something that person is doing well and should continue. Support this explanation with at least one reference to a credible source.