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How past trauma impacts emotional intelligence: Examining the connection
Ryan K Gottfredson1, William J Becker2
1Department of Management, College of Business and Economics, California State University, Fullerton, CA, United States.
Frontiers in Psychology
|June 5, 2023
Summary
Past psychological trauma negatively impacts emotional intelligence (EI) by impairing brain functions. Healing from trauma may be key to developing EI and improving workplace effectiveness.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Organizational Psychology
- Psychology
Background:
- Emotional intelligence (EI) is crucial for leadership and employee effectiveness in organizational psychology.
- The field lacks understanding regarding the origins and development of EI variations.
- Antecedents of EI remain underexplored, creating a gap in knowledge.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of past psychological trauma on emotional intelligence capabilities.
- To explore the neurobiological mechanisms linking psychological trauma to EI.
- To provide a theoretical and practical framework for understanding EI development.
Main Methods:
- Review of neuroscience research on trauma and brain function.
- Analysis of psychological studies on emotional intelligence.
- Integration of findings to establish a causal link between trauma and EI.
Main Results:
- Psychological trauma demonstrably impairs brain regions and functions essential for EI.
- Evidence suggests a direct negative impact of trauma on an individual's EI.
- Trauma's effects on EI explain individual differences in EI levels.
Conclusions:
- Past psychological trauma is a significant antecedent impacting emotional intelligence.
- Healing from psychological trauma offers a pathway for enhancing EI.
- Findings have implications for leader development and employee well-being in organizations.
Keywords:
dissociationemotional intelligenceemotional regulationhypervigilanceneurosciencepsychological traumatraumaMore Related Videos
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