While in the past the focus of a student’s ability was believed to be determined almost exclusively by their IQ, these days there is much talk about the role of emotional intelligence and student retention.
Meeting the higher demands of studying diligently in order to achieve good grades doesn’t end with a students innate mental intelligence. It also requires other various abilities that a person may posses. For one, emotional intelligence and student retention is something that shouldn’t be overlooked as a contributing factor to a person’s ability to do well and make high grades.
While there may not be a direct link between emotional intelligence and a student’s retention, his emotional intelligence is still believed to count considerably. The present belief is that students equipped with even a relatively average IQ and the proper level of emotional intelligence are more likely to succeed academically than those who have relatively high IQ yet lack EQ.
Emotional Intelligence Provides Better Coping Abilities
Having higher emotional intelligence seems to provide better coping mechanisms for students. Emotional intelligence is said to be a better determining factor when qualifying the success of a person in any field of study, accounting for a higher level of student retention in academic programs across the board.
Being emotionally intelligent means that one has the greater capacity to understand oneself and the world in which we live. It may not be emotional intelligence that encourages a student to have more focus on the subject matter which in turn would help him retain information. Yet knowing the importance of focus may be learned through having a suitable emotional intelligence.
Emotionally intelligent students are more likely to show confidence and self trust. They’re also said to have a higher capacity to handle problems more easily and to perform better in terms of academics, given that they’re also endowed with an ideal level of intellect. All these, when combined will contribute to a person’s self-belief and confidence that will move him to perform better in class.
Let’s Consider Other EQ Factors
However, we shouldn’t focus on student retention alone when it comes to a discussion on emotional intelligence. There are various factors that must be considered to help determine the extent of value multiple intelligence has in the academic pursuit of students.
Those who have higher emotional intelligence are also believed to perform better in group situations since they have developed better communication skills including empathy, listening and a number of other social skills.
Emotionally intelligent students are basically those individuals who have more natural tendencies to understand other people’s emotions and to empathize with them. They also know themselves more fully and have the capability to influence other people’s emotions and actions in a stable and not manipulative way.
A Better Ability to Relate Well With Others
Students equipped with higher emotional intelligence also have the tendency to be a bit more conscious of themselves and others. Thus, they create better relationships with themselves and with those they are closely related to. It has been found that when students lack these types of emotional skills it may cause obstructions in learning and thus, have a detrimental effect on the retention of students.
Those who are deficient in emotional intelligence are observed to display behaviors that would link to their dropping out of higher education, more specifically college. Even with a high IQ when students are lacking in these basic emotional skills, they have increased pressure to succeed that can contribute to a higher rate of quitting college.
There are various other reasons that could eventually lead to the drop out of a student but a higher number than ever previously thought can be rooted from the lack of a proper level of emotional intelligence.
Therefore, it’s not only in our personal lives that developing EQ is productive. Emotional intelligence in student retention has been shown to be a contributing factor. The cumulative value of which in a four-year institution will be a good determinant of the student’s failure or success.