Emotional intelligence in adult development

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1.0 Introduction

In principle, emotional intelligence as a concept has increasingly become a vital topic of psychological research in recent years. It is significant to recognize that the element of emotional intelligence affects the development of a person regarding both professional and individual success in life. For that reason, according to Nelson and Barry (2005), during adult development, the quality of happiness and relationships as well as the fulfilment feeling in life, is determined by the level of emotional intelligence possessed by an individual. Notably, emotional intelligence can be described as the capacity of individuals to manage, comprehend, and positively use emotions in them, with others and in their relationships. Emotional intelligence helps individuals in relieving stress, initiate effective communication, possess the feeling of empathy, overcome challenges as well as defuse conflict.

Dastjerdi (2013) asserts that the age of 18-29 years can be described as a period of transition and development; as such this age group can be termed as emerging adults. Regarding emotional intelligence during adulthood development life tasks are loaded with practical information that is processed differently among individuals. As part of adult development, emotional intelligence can also be termed as part of social intelligence that includes the first knowledge about one’s self and others. As a consequence, according to Chew et al. (2013), various elements of social intelligence reflects on feelings thus is quite closely related to emotional intelligence. After all, emotional intelligence is crucial in adult development as it enables access to an individual's feelings and emotions as well as the ability of an individual to efficiently initiate discrimination among personal feelings; thus offering guidance to behaviour. 

Additionally, emotional intelligence is also responsible for distinguishing pleasure from pain during adult development as well as allows the detection of complicated and highly differentiated feelings (Dastjerdi, 2013). Notably, during the age of 18-29 years, emotional intelligence involves the capability of a person to monitor temperaments and the mood of others effectively; and so be able to enlist such knowledge into predicting their future behaviour. Nonetheless, according to (Fallahzadeh, 2011), it is significant to recognize that during adult development; emotional intelligence is not complemented by the general sense of self and appraisal to other individuals. As a result, emotional intelligence focuses on the utilization of personal and other's emotional states to effectively and efficiently offer solutions to problems complemented by the ability to regulate behaviour. In consequence, this paper-based essay focuses towards analysing the aspects of emotional intelligence in adult development through the application of specific concepts and theories.

2.0 Literature Review

2.1 Expression of emotions

Emotion in the self

            Murphy et al. (2012), state that during the period of adult development and transition, the processes underlying emotional intelligence are initiated in the perceptual system as a result of the affect-laden information. Accurate appraisals and expression of feelings complemented by the laws that govern such principles among adults is courtesy of emotional intelligence. Emotional intelligence in adult development results in emotional appraisals, elements that entirely determine the expression of emotions among individuals whereby, emotions are fully expressed and appraised through language. Consequently, according to Parker et al. (2005), it is essential to acknowledge emotional intelligence is responsible for the ability of individuals to learn about emotions.

            Besides, concerning emotional intelligence in adult development, the various aspects of expression and appraisal of emotion has been continuously overlooked as a result of mental abilities taking place on nonverbal levels. According to Fallahzadeh (2011), mental abilities cannot be adequately measured by nonverbal communication in an individual; however, psychologists have explored the aspects of nonverbal expressions and appraisals of emotions in adults. As a result of emotional intelligence, adults communicate through distinct nonverbal channels, where individual perception is clarified in terms of expressions referred to as nonverbal sending accuracy.  Various scales have been modelled to measure emotional responsiveness, for example, Affective Communication Test and Affect Expression Rating Scale.

Emotion in others  

            Emotional intelligence enables individuals to be able to perceive emotions in others as well as themselves. As a consequence, due to the perceptual abilities, individuals can be part of practical interpersonal cooperation by being able to monitor elements of displeasure. According to Nelson and Barry (2005), interpretation of emotions reveals that various individual differences can be measured using emotional responsiveness model, for example, Affective Communication Test and Affect Expression Rating Scale. Indeed, these models tell that as result of interactions between individuals, due to emotional intelligence subjects respond by expressing thoughts and emotions. 

            Even so, according to Chew et al. (2013), emotional intelligence in adult development reflects on an exciting commonality concerning the appraisal and expression of emotions, revealing that such attributes appear related to the elements of empathy.  In consequence, the ability of individuals to understand the feelings of others and to apply those senses on themselves can be considered as a gift of emotional intelligence. For that reason, in adult development empathy can be described as the primary attribute for emotionally intelligent behaviour among individuals.

Further, according to Murphy et al. (2010), emotional intelligence is dependent on the contributions made by close family members and relatives, as such positive relations among individual's results in the feeling of satisfaction and reduced stress levels. The perception made by an individual regarding the suitability of professional advice is profoundly influenced by the level of empathy that can be assumed to be part of altruistic behaviour. Further, emotional intelligence enables...