4 signs of low emotional intelligence

Having low emotional intelligence is a problem that can have a significant influence on all types of social relationships. Some experts even suggest that emotional intelligence may be more important than IQ in determining success. Think that if there is a success that is really worthwhile, that really makes you feel happy, it is the one you achieve in your relationships with others.

That’s why People with low emotional intelligence have such a hard time succeeding. Precisely their relationships with others are characterized by being problematic and lacking a series of fundamental ingredients so that they can move forward in a healthy way.

Characteristics of people with low emotional intelligence

Emotional intelligence can play an important role in how you interact with others. With low emotional intelligence it can be difficult to handle situations with coworkers, bosses, subordinates, friends, partners, family members, and anyone else.

To identify a person with low emotional intelligence or determine if you yourself lack these skills, look in the following list at what may be good indicators of this circumstance. On the other hand, if you do an exercise in sincerity and you really identify with someone, it will still be a good sign since you will somehow already know what you can focus on and work on to improve.

They don’t understand how others feel

People with low emotional intelligence remain oblivious to other people’s feelings. Paradoxically, they feel misunderstood and understand – whether true or not – that others do not try hard enough to understand them. This causes them to become increasingly exasperated, appearing upset.

This situation causes people with low emotional intelligence to argue very frequently, most of the time moved by a feeling of incomprehension. One of the problems behind this is that these people do not know how to correctly express their emotions, frequently channeling them in the form of anger, which gives rise to very complicated social situations.

They consider others too sensitive

His inability to understand the emotions of others makes him People with low emotional intelligence consider others too sensitive to their displays of anger, sadness, annoyance and other reactions. This lack of empathy causes them to remain insensitive and act inappropriately.

This way of reacting creates or complicates conflicts and gives rise to misunderstandings, since People with low emotional intelligence are not able to interpret the reaction of others and, consequently, act inappropriately.

On the other hand, by not being able to understand the feelings of others and considering them too sensitive, People with low emotional intelligence not only defend their point of view tooth and nail, but also refuse to accept other points of view.

This inability is accentuated to the extent that the emotional component is present in said point of view. Furthermore, people with low emotional intelligence are often pessimistic and excessively critical of the feelings of others.

They do not know how to manage strong emotions

Strong emotions, whether their own or those of others, are difficult for people with low emotional intelligence to understand. Therefore, these individuals usually distance themselves from these types of situations to avoid having to deal with the emotional consequences, hiding their true emotions.

But fleeing is not always possible. Therefore, when the inability to regulate emotions becomes evident in tense situations, People with low emotional intelligence explode in disproportionate and uncontrollable emotional outbursts.

They have difficulty maintaining all types of relationships

Any personal relationship requires continuous give and take, listening skills, exchange of emotions and empathy. The more intimate the relationship, the more necessary this is, to which other skills are added, such as compassion or the ability to provide emotional support.

The lack of social skills related to emotional intelligence makes these individuals have difficulty having healthy relationships. with those around them at all levels. But, since they are unable to recognize what the reason for the problem is, people with low emotional intelligence often feel like victims. This victimhood only further complicates their relationships.

The importance of regulating our emotions

The psychologist Alicia Jiménez (2017) points out that emotional regulation “It is a set of conscious internal processes that allow us to control, evaluate and modify our reactions to achieve our goals and objectives”. A good level of emotional intelligence would translate into good emotional regulation and vice versa. The author points out that to achieve good emotional regulation it is important to be open to what is pleasant and unpleasant. At the same time that “implement strategies to eliminate, maintain or change the emotions and emotional states that we experience depending on whether they are effective or not”.

According to Jiménez, some emotional regulation strategies are: search for social support, planning, acceptance, physical exercise, time outside… And among the behaviors that we should avoid to avoid getting out of control we would find: substance use, rumination (thinking about it), emotional suppression, emotional avoidance, etc.

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