(COMPLETE ANSWERS) 2025
- DUE 11 September 2025
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Section A: Emotional Intelligence (EI)
Question 1: Defining Emotional Intelligence and its Components
, Emotional Intelligence (EI) is a person's ability to identify, understand, manage, and use
emotions effectively and constructively. It's often contrasted with a person's intellectual ability
(IQ) but is considered a more reliable predictor of success in life, including in school and work.
EI involves both understanding your own emotions and empathizing with the emotions of others.
The core components of EI, as widely defined by theorists like Daniel Goleman, are:
1. Self-Awareness: This is the foundational component. It's about recognizing and
understanding your own emotions, strengths, weaknesses, drives, and values.
o Example for Thabo: Thabo needs to develop the self-awareness to recognize the
feelings of frustration and anxiety linked to his family's financial crisis. He needs
to connect his emotional outbursts to these underlying feelings, rather than just
acting out without understanding why.
2. Self-Regulation: This component is about managing your own emotions and impulses. It
involves the ability to control disruptive emotions and redirect negative impulses.
o Example for Thabo: Thabo struggles with this, as seen in his frequent emotional
outbursts and lashing out at classmates. An intervention would aim to teach him
strategies, like deep breathing or taking a brief break, to regulate his anger and
frustration before it escalates.
3. Motivation: This is the drive to work toward your goals with persistence and optimism,
despite setbacks. It’s an intrinsic drive to achieve.
o Example for Thabo: Thabo's academic performance has declined, suggesting a
loss of motivation. His frustration and withdrawal from peers show he feels
defeated. An EI-based approach would help him find his inner drive again,
perhaps by setting small, achievable goals to rebuild his confidence.
4. Empathy: This involves understanding the emotional makeup of other people. It's the
ability to put yourself in someone else's shoes and recognize their feelings and
perspectives.
o Example for Thabo: His verbal lashing out suggests a lack of empathy for his
classmates' feelings. An EI intervention would help him understand that his words
and actions have an impact on others, potentially reducing his aggressive
behavior.
5. Social Skills: This is the ability to manage relationships, build networks, and find
common ground with others. It's about using EI to interact successfully with the world.
o Example for Thabo: Thabo has become withdrawn and refuses to participate in
group activities. This indicates poor social skills. Interventions would focus on
teaching him how to re-engage with peers and communicate his feelings
constructively, rather than with hostility.
Question 2: Role of EI in Psychosocial Support
Psychosocial support focuses on the link between a person's psychological state and their social
environment. It's about addressing both the emotional distress and the social factors contributing