Is Emotional Intelligence a predictor of Academic Achievement:
In the traditional education system, academic achievement (or grades) is defined by how much effort a student put into their studies, rather than any other factors. To understand this factor, we need to take a look at the relationship between emotional intelligence and academic success. According to research published in 2017 by researchers from John Hopkins University and Harvard University, “students with high scores on emotionality-based cognitive ability have been found to perform better on standardized tests of reading and math-related skills”. These findings are supported by evidence showing that “students with low levels of emotionality intelligence were less likely to outperform peers on standardized assessments of mathematics and reading skills”. With such results being observed, it does not come as a surprise that teachers should incorporate more emotional intelligence practices in the classroom. Not only will these measures improve a child’s ability to concentrate, but they can also help them avoid distractions. Therefore, learning emotional intelligence helps children develop their problem-solving abilities, which in turn can translate into increased concentration, improved social skills, as well as a higher potential for success.
Emotional Intelligence
To examine how one’s emotional intelligence impacts their performance on standardized tests, there are three main aspects of emotional proficiency that should be considered: ‘being aware of self, observing others, being empathetic toward others, and managing emotions’. In regards to emotional awareness, “students with high scores on this component were 12 percent more likely to complete reading comprehension tasks after controlling for intelligence,” resulting in “higher test scores for those who scored highly on emotional self-awareness,” according to the team. While observational ability may seem like something that would benefit students that have difficulty focusing on a task due to an underlying medical condition, it has been found that emotional awareness leads to enhanced interpersonal skills, and this can have positive effects on academic achievement throughout the year. Another measure that could be taken is empathy. As people tend to display great empathy towards others, they can make connections, be interested in understanding another person’s views, and understand their emotional states. Those who struggle with self-awareness often miss out on developing this important trait in other aspects, which can lead to lowered self-confidence. Lastly, self-management can be measured through both academic achievement and social life.
While studies have identified some correlations between emotional intelligence and academic achievements, they have also found some significant differences between the two types of abilities. For example, “students with high scorers of academic aptitude had lower average marks on course test items than students with high scores of non-academic aptitude, and those who scored highly on verbal reasoning abilities were more effective than their counterparts at all grade levels”. Furthermore, it has been shown that students who score high on non-academic capabilities tend to be better socialized and are more successful socially, compared to those who were born with high IQ. The author of this paper notes that there may be other factors that contribute to a lower level of emotional intelligence than one might realize, so while this area is often overlooked when looking at how academic performance correlates with emotional intelligence, it is important that educators focus on fostering emotional awareness and monitoring social behavior, and helping students express their feelings in the right ways.Implications for Education
As mentioned, implementing emotional intelligence measures and teaching and practicing emotional and social skills is the key way to foster optimal academic success in children. By incorporating these factors into the curriculum and encouraging students to feel comfortable expressing emotions and having access to support, they will become happier and closer to doing great things academically. Students will learn to be their advocates and will strive toward excellence. Additionally, their social interactions with others will grow and thrive, allowing them to have more opportunities for social interaction and growth within society. Overall, by promoting emotional awareness and self-management, schools will see increases in attendance rates and graduation rates among students. Students will have more time to build meaningful relationships, explore interests, pursue their passions, and grow emotionally. This will allow more students to achieve educational success and success in pursuing their dreams.
Comments
Post a Comment