an article of Mayte Vazquez Resino
General Health Psychologist
Member of the
Expert in neuropsychology and cognitive development in the elderly by the URJC
and in emotional intelligence, mindfulness and positive psychology
The emotional intelligence (IE) constitutes one of the strengths classified by Seligman and Peterson in the Character Strengths and Virtues; however, analyzing in depth the concept of Emotional Intelligence developed by these authors, we find that within this global concept (established by Mayer and Salovey in 1990 initially and disseminated by Daniel Goleman in 1995 in his book with the same name) some Other important strengths such as creativity, resilience, openness to experience, gratitude or social relationships, among other. It is therefore significant in this article not only to highlight the importance of Emotional Intelligence in the active and successful aging of our elders, but also skills that are related to it and that have been and are the subject of studies in numerous investigations.
Emotional Intelligence of our elders
The emotional intelligence is one of the strengths that in balance configure a valuable and safe person, both on a personal level and in relation to the people around her. Growing up emotionally healthy, knowing how to appreciate the present, adjusting to each moment, adapting to the environment and of course developing a relaxed and optimistic approach is synonymous with a active and successful aging.
Today’s society reflects a negative view of older people, where birthdays are associated with a physical decline, reduced cognitive abilities, which causes situations of social isolation, loneliness and therefore emotional imbalance, with more negative than positive connotations. Our objective is change that vision of losses for gainsto extol the successes and not the failures, to highlight the vital experience and not the suffering and therefore the objective it is to raise awareness, prevent and educate in the development of that emotional capacity.
Personality, environment, family are variables that mediate the person’s approach to life (biopsychosocial model) but what capacities do the research denote in this regard and how can we promote them? Let’s go on to analyze it briefly.
Research and approaches on EI in older people
In line with the above, reaching a major with emotional flexibility guarantees optimism, hope, well-being and of course that concept as attractive as it is the happiness. Research in this field relates this strength to other significant ones such as resilience or sense of life, let’s not forget that in cultures such as the oriental where serenity, emotional positivism prevail and mental training and sense of life are cultivated, they live longer and are happier (García, H. and Miralles F. 2016). In fact, a study carried out at Yeshiva University is striking, which determined that long-lived people share two very important common attitudes towards life: he positivism and high emotional expressiveness.
Closer to us, a study by Ramírez E. et al. (2015) from the University of Jaén, show strengths as personality traits and that are present in our quality of life, it is about enhance the strengths, Educate ourselves emotionally throughout the life cycle and be aware of it to achieve happier individuals with ourselves and with our environment.
Other investigations indicate that the ability to manage emotions, as well as to recognize one’s own feelings and those of others, improve remarkably after the age of 60. Thus, Enrique Lombardo in his article on “theoretical intersections in old age” (2012) presents a work from the perspective of well-being, where external and internal factors are best controlled by combining strategies of disengagement, selection, and reassessment in order to regulate emotional life towards forms of balance and harmony.
That is to say, that the person throughout his life develops resources and when he reaches that age group, they have a better understanding of his strengths in general and his aging process in particular, in short it would be the so-called cognitive-emotional integration theory by stating that older people, in view of some realities that they cannot control, choose to promote positive emotions as a key to balance, happiness and social desirability.
Within this framework of psychosocial and emotional theories of aging, highlighting the theory of socioemotional selectivitydeveloped by the Stanford psychologist, Laura Carstensen, (1993), where the person becomes aware that life is running out, focusing behaviors on rewarding emotional experiencesIt’s about enjoying the moment, here and now.
We must not forget the character that Fernández Ballesteros, R. (2009) imprints on this active ageing, where active emotions are indicators of success. “Emotions are fundamental adaptation tools: as long as they provide the basic requirement for learning (the evaluation of the meaning of stimuli) and they activate behavioral, physiological and hormonal changes that are associated with cognitive and behavioral styles suitable for coping with situations” .
Truly what stands out in all these theoretical frameworks and studies mentioned is their comprehensive aspect in all variables that make it up and should not “lose sight” when studying the elderly in a global way, fundamental aspects such as their bio-physiological, cognitive state, social context, family, culture, etc. For this reason, there is still a lot of work to continue developing.
Towards a paradigm shift. Enhance the Emotional Intelligence of the elderly
In general, active aging and its emotional expression is not just a current conceptualization that tries to avoid a decadent and dependent old age, it is necessary to avoid the frivolitycreating a lifestyle and guidelines of intellectual and emotional functionality that relate to the individual in that prosperity.
More specifically, we can develop tasks that try to increase that Emotional Intelligence in its environment:
- Narrative development and written communication
Faced with situations called “stressors”, we must learn to develop a change through written representation, expressing our fears, our discomfort trying to make sense of bad experiences. - Development of active listening
We must put the focus of attention on what they are telling us, we pay attention and in the end we reflect what we feel before that conversation or message from others, with this we not only encourage communication, but also social interaction and empathy. - Development of social skills
Although it sounds “to topic”, Going to social events, participating in associations and developing inter- and intra-group interaction serve to provide people with security and confidence, reinforcing their emotions. - Developing the Strength of Gratitude
Gratitude, in addition to being an antidote to depression, characterizes an optimistic and harmonious person, which is why daily gratitude exercises and reflection help to promote more positive states. - Developing the strength of forgiveness
Cultivating forgiveness throughout our lives makes us keep a broader mind, helps us not to focus on the negative, without excuses or reproaches. The letter of forgiveness, in the face of an unfinished issue with someone from our past or who “removes us emotionally” can achieve that balance. - Development of creativity and openness to beauty
These strengths, if we also carry them out in company, fill us with greater fullness: going to museums, developing painting, creative writing, dance, etc., can be examples of this. - depolarize thought
Practice activities such as yoga or “mindfulness” help emotional balance by eliminating judgments and value labels about what happens around us. - Developing openness to experience
Learning to be more flexible and dynamic, better recognizing our emotional states, naming them and externalizing them are part of that emotional dynamic throughout the life cycle. It is curious that they teach us to identify fear, sadness or anger, we also learn to identify joy, illusion and enthusiasm, the journal of pleasant experiences at the end of the day is very helpful, in addition to associating pleasant facts and experiences with an object and taking it with us help to combat the moments “less good” that can happen to us. - Do not focus our motivation on a single objective
Life is full of experiences that we must adapt to our lifestyle and needs.
Conclusion
He Developing emotional intelligence takes time and training.. As we have seen, enabling our elders in dimensions such as empathy, emotional regulation or social skills significantly favors the aging process itself. Our objective is make us aware and internalize and manage emotions in the most optimal way, and thereby achieve not only healthy ageing, but also a more positive self-awareness and a better quality of lifeIt is in our hands and in those of our society to help achieve it.
“Even the longest journey begins with a single step”
japanese proverb
References
Carstensen, LL (1993). Motivation for social contact throughout life: a theory of socioemotional selectivity. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press. (40), 209-254.
Fernandez, R., (2009). Active aging: contributions from Psychology. Madrid. Spain. Pyramid.
Garcia, H. & Miralles F., (2016). Ikigai, Japan’s secrets to a long and happy life. Barcelona. Spain, Uranus.
Lombardo, E., (2012). Positive psychology and psychology of old age. Theoretical intersections. Psychodebate Magazine. Faculty of Social Sciences. University of Palermo. Recovered from
Peterson, C & Seligman, M., (2004). Character strengths and virtues: a handbook and classification. Oxford University Press.
Ramírez E, & Ortega, AR, and Martos, R., (2015). The strengths in older people that increases well-being. European Journal of Investigation in Health. 5(2), 187-195.