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We’ve all heard the old adage, "when emotions go
up,
intelligence goes down." Now there’s a scientific
explanation
for what we have always known intuitively.
The illustration below shows how the amygdala, an area of
the brain located in the middle or mammalian area, actually
"hijacks" our ability to think logically under stress.
When we intake information, it takes two different "highways"
to our brain – the slower, more straightforward route to
the
neo-cortex, where logical, linear thinking occurs, and the
much faster "autobahn" route to the amygdala.
The amygdala assesses the "threat value" of every stimulus
or piece of information, based on stored memory experiences.
If the amygdala senses any sort of danger (physical or
emotional) it sends a signal for an immediate response. If
the threat is minimal or non-existent, the amygdala forwards
the information to the neo-cortex with an emotional "marker"
attached, indicating the emotion just experienced was similar
to previous incidents. The individual is then predisposed
to
respond in a manner that mirrors responses to past incidents.
This is where EQ comes in. One of the most significant
attributes of individuals with higher levels of EQ is
the ability
to notice when they are being "hijacked" by their
amygdala
(ie. when their emotion is going up), and to consciously
redirect the process through the neocortex where a rational
response can be generated.
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