Prof Carolyn MacCann (USYD)

Emotional intelligence and emotion regulation

Abstract

The way we deal with emotions is important for our well-being, social relationships, and performance at work and school. This talk focuses on two key concepts that affect how we deal with emotions: emotional intelligence and emotion regulation. Emotional intelligence is a set of skills or capacities you have, usually defined as the ability to accurately perceive, understand, and regulate emotions. Emotion regulation is the process by which you influence the type and intensity of emotions that you or others feel and express. In this presentation, I will discuss evidence from meta-analyses and empirical studies linking emotional intelligence, emotion regulation, and life outcomes. This includes a large-scale meta-analysis on the relationship between emotional intelligence and academic performance (k = 1,246, N = 42,529) and emerging research on how people regulate others’ emotions (extrinsic emotion regulation).  I will present a framework for the strategies people use to regulate others’ emotions, and consider cultural differences in these strategies and their effects.

Bio

Carolyn MacCann is a Professor in the School of Psychology at The University of Sydney. Her research addresses how emotion-related characteristics lead to work success, educational success, and greater mental health and well-being. Two major concepts in her research are emotional intelligence abilities and emotion regulation processes. She develops psychometric tests to assess these and other related concepts. She also focuses on the mechanisms and pathways by which emotional intelligence and emotion regulation lead to life success. Her research tends to be cross-disciplinary, cutting across psychology, education, and business.