As has been shown in numerous scientific studies, there is no direct relationship between IQ and success in life. High rational faculties do not equate to complete human development nor do they guarantee a satisfactory life path.
In fact, there are professionally successful people who turn out to be chaos when it comes to managing their emotional life. Furthermore, Goleman (1998) states that the level of emotional intelligence can be more decisive than the level of IQ, since it determines the degree of skill that we will achieve in all our other faculties.
In reference, we point to Gardner’s multiple intelligences and the capacity that the educational system must have, among others, to promote, in addition to the development of academic intelligence, other intelligences that have a more personal nature, such as emotional intelligence.
Although there are multiple theoretical models that cover the construct of emotional intelligence, this article presents it in accordance with the initial approach of Salovey and Mayer (1990): it is the ability to recognize, differentiate, and appropriately manage one’s own and others’ emotions The set of emotional competencies into which emotional intelligence is broken down varies depending on the theoretical approach. We take as a reference that of Bisquerra and Pérez (2007) which identifies nine: emotional awareness, emotional regulation, empathy, emotional communication, self-efficacy, autonomy, prosocial behavior, assertiveness and optimism.
The development of all these skills is a sine quan condition of personal and social well-being and therefore of having a more satisfactory life.
The relationship between addictions and emotional intelligence
Researchers Kun and Demetrovics (2010) conducted a systematic review to investigate the relationship between emotional intelligence and addictions. After analyzing nearly 36 studies, they concluded that two EI competencies, decoding and differentiating emotions and regulating emotions, play a key role with respect to substance use and addictions. Also poor mood regulation. Along the same lines, Orlando et.al. (2001) state that substance consumption is enhanced when the consumer is unable to cope with unpleasant emotional experiences and resorts to consumption as a form of escape.
Our socio-educational and psychological experience in the Llaurant La Llum therapeutic community coincides on an empirical level with the findings of the previous scientific references. Regarding emotional management skills, in general terms, community users present difficulties when identifying, regulating and expressing their emotions. In addition, they require emotional re-education, since they associate emotions with displeasure and lack of control
They move between emotional hyperreaction, oversizing their emotions, and emotional anesthesia, which they achieve through consumption or toxic activity. It is difficult for them to make emotional repair and therefore have difficulty producing changes in their mood.
Regarding other emotional components such as self-concept, self-esteem and self-image, they generally present a distortion. These three components are affected by a negative self-image, based more on failures than successes, as well as actions they took in the past motivated by their addiction and which they regret.
This sometimes leads them to a constant search for other people’s approval, hypersensitivity to how others see them, and a desire to please. It is necessary to promote a process of self-knowledge focused on resources, strengths and therefore on the development of healthy self-esteem
Their self-efficacy is also affected, that is, the ability they believe they have to achieve the results they desire. Relapses affect this component, seeing the user immersed in a process of starting over, feeling of failure and low personal expectations. In relation to this, the self-motivation component is also affected since the impulsivity that characterizes addictive behavior makes them need to see immediate results from their actions.
The work here consists of learning to set short, medium and long-term goals and be able to generate resources to maintain motivation. Likewise, the motivation towards change is sometimes extrinsic and it is necessary to guide the user towards intrinsic motivation.
In the same way that the socio-educational area intervenes in changing habits, establishing a new social network or improving family relationships, the need to intervene in the emotional dimension is evident.
This intervention must be structured around the issues mentioned in the previous section, where some have already been advanced. First of all, It is convenient for the user to understand the functionality of emotions and become aware that they have the ability to manage them, even if it takes effort and time. You need to learn to manage unpleasant emotional states, as well as learn to find non-toxic ways to gratify yourself in pleasant emotional states.
One of the keys to intervention in the emotional dimension must be to promote introspection processes with the aim of the user growing emotionally. It is about opening spaces to know oneself, accept oneself and define those personal characteristics that are susceptible to improvement and that are directly related to addictive behavior, along with other variables.
A concrete example could be developing the ability to say no to situations that the user does not want to do This implies that you acquire greater self-confidence and unconditional self-esteem, since you feel responsible for your decisions and do not carry out actions that you do not want to do or that could even harm you.
On the other hand, it is appropriate that you develop the ability to set goals according to the phase you are in and, therefore, based on what you are capable of giving. In this way, short-term goals are established that progressively lead to personal evolution and improvement.
It is important for every person to develop their emotional intelligence to achieve a satisfactory life path. But, as far as we are concerned, it is evident the need for intervention in the emotional area of users who undergo addictive behavior cessation treatments This article presents a battery of socio-emotional intervention needs and various approaches to work on them.
Professional help for addiction treatment
If you need professional help, either for yourself or for a family member or close friend, you can contact Llaurant La Llum. Our multidisciplinary team will advise and help you overcome any type of addiction. Whether you need outpatient treatment or admission to a residential center, our team of addictive behavior specialists will help you overcome your problem. You can see all our contact information on this page.
