When tears fall, children are told to wipe them. They are told that they appear “weak” that exhibiting their emotions is unhealthy, and that keeping them bottled is a smarter alternative. However, when students come face-to-face with an onslaught of work from school, force themselves into several extracurriculars, and sacrifice rest for a simple letter grade on their transcript, they are told that they are “smart” the ultimate quality that is crucial for success in the modern world. Globally, IQ has been favored over EQ, specifically in the educational environment. Students use this idealogy and bring forth a number of activities or exert additional money for additional help/tutoring to gain that favorable position. IQ and EQ both hold vital positions in one’s life but one does not prevail over the other.
IQ vs. EQ: What are they?
IQ and EQ are terms tossed around with no clear explanation as to what they are and what they measure/stand for. These terms refer to a person’s intelligence, however in different terms.
IQ means intelligent quotient: a measure of one’s ability to reason or how well one can utilize all sorts of information/logic to answer questions or formulate a solution to a problem. IQ tests are clinical assessments usually conducted by professionals in the psychology field and cannot be taken under any means. If one wants a measure of their IQ, they require a valid reason to take the test.
EQ refers to emotional intelligence: it is the ability to comprehend one’s own emotions, as well as the emotions of those surrounding us. This specific intelligence has five main factors which are self-regulation, self-awareness, empathy, motivation, and social skills. Individuals with a high level of EQ are extremely competent at understanding their own feelings, what those feelings mean, and how they affect themselves and others around them.
IQ and EQ have been strung up against a long-lasting debate in regard to which quality is more beneficial or which quality is less advantageous. IQ and EQ both measure a person differently, however, both scores can play a prominent role in the overall health of adolescents.
Research: IQ and EQ in Youth
Children are exposed to a number of activities from a young age. Many of these activities are focused on a child’s intellectual abilities. Building blocks can help with cognitive skills, board games can enhance math skills, and certain video games have been proven to improve spatial skills. However, these simple tasks do not enhance a child’s intelligence. Minimal aspects such as childhood play toys exhibit the pedestal IQ has been placed on. From adolescence, children unknowingly thrust themselves into mind-building activities, which in turn factor into their future behaviors, activities, and mindset.
Throughout growth, children develop their skills. In terms of emotional intelligence, certain types of learning and patterns of thinking can affect this. Emotional intelligence can be extremely helpful to kids, aiding them in successfully responding to certain situations/challenges and communicating with others in a manner that takes into account their emotions too.
Ultimately: the IQ vs. EQ Debate
IQ and EQ are both dominant in today’s society: it is up to either measure to determine what or who a person truly is. However, both share a magnitude of positives and negatives, but IQ tends to be much more emphasized in hopes of displaying how “smart” one truly is, especially kids. From youth, kids should not face such immense pressure on the level of how smart they are. Everyone has different skills and different interpretations.
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