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1-Page Summary of Social Intelligence
Overview
Emotions are contagious. They spread from person to person and influence the way we interact with others. Social Intelligence: The New Science of Human Relationships (2006) by Daniel Goleman examines how emotions affect our relationships, health, behavior and even cellular function in ways that have yet to be completely understood.
Humans are social animals, and childhood experiences play a big role in their lives. They have the ability to make us happy or depressed even if we only see them for a moment. Neuroscientists have studied how our brains react differently when we meet new people, depending on whether they seem friendly or threatening. Our brains are always looking out for potential dangers and threats, but it also looks for friends who can help us deal with those situations more easily. Because of this evolutionary process called neuroplasticity, our neural circuitry becomes stronger as we interact with other people over time.
Positive interactions can lead to a number of beneficial reactions in the body, including hormones that promote happiness and regulate bodily systems. This leads to better health over time. However, negative interactions have an opposite effect on the body; they cause deterioration of health over time. Long-term relationships are therefore closely linked with human health because good ones improve it, while bad ones damage it.
Social isolation has become a growing problem in today’s society. This is because technology has taken over our lives, making it difficult to form strong connections with others. Many people spend more time on social media and their email accounts than they do interacting with other people face-to-face. As a result of this, many feel isolated even when they are surrounded by friends and family members.
It is important to understand the social nature of the brain. It means that we need to be aware of our influence on others and also make sure that the people around us are good influences as well.
Key Point 1: Emotions pass easily from person to person.
No one lives in a vacuum. We are influenced by the words and actions of others, which can have lasting effects on our moods. This is true for both positive and negative emotions, as even minor interactions can change our moods for the rest of the day. For example, if someone treats us rudely or has an outburst, we might be put into a bad mood. Conversely, if someone does something nice for us (like giving up their seat on the bus), it will lift our spirits throughout that day.
The human brain has two types of processing, a low road and high road. The low road is the instinctive side of the brain that happens quickly and automatically without much thought. It’s also known as emotional processing. High-road processing requires more analysis, time, effort, and conscious thinking about what you’re doing. These processes aren’t mutually exclusive; it usually takes both to form strong feelings or perceptions in a situation.
Emotions can be divided into two categories: low-road and high-road. Low-road emotions are instinctive reactions, like fear. They require little time to process and are easy to share with others. High-road emotions take longer to articulate because they’re more complex.
Key Point 2: Nonverbal communication spreads positive and negative emotions.
People tend to be in sync with others who are around them. For instance, people who mimic one another’s body language and gestures will find it easier to feel deeply engaged in the conversation. The pace and inflection of their words will tend to synchronize when a couple is arguing or happy mothers and babies mimic each other’s facial expressions. Being out of sync can make interactions more difficult.
