Axiological content of emotional intelligence as a basis for congruent life fulfilment

Abstract

The article reveals axiological potential of emotional intelligence in the process of a person’s life fulfilment. The conceptual basis for the above-mentioned theoretical considerations is N. Peseschkian’s positive psychotherapy, as well as the logic of post-non-classical rationality. According to it, the brain constructs emotions that have social-cultural and target determination and are intended to save the “body budget”. Emotions are understood and interpreted via such components of emotional intelligence as an organismic sense and emotional competence. The first component, having axiological content, is responsible for understanding the intra- and extra-psychic reality constructed by a person as a psychosomatic individual. The second one is characterized by social content, helps implement intra-psychic reality into viable projects, and interprets of meaningful signals coming from outside. N. Peseschkian’s positive psychotherapy creates a favourable field for research on importance of emotions and emotional intelligence for life fulfilment due to separation of actual, internal and basic conflicts and their corresponding levels of identity. At the actual level, the most favourable strategy for emotion managing and directing into a constructive way is development of an individual’s ability to distance from own emotions. However, the axiological content of emotional intelligence is most clearly traced at the level of a basic conflict (basic identity), according to which existence of certain feelings, emotions and affects may indicate incongruence of old concepts to new social-cultural realities, and be a signal for necessity to make changes in these concepts, as well a signal on risks related to such changes. The changes become possible due to an established contact with oneself, moderate being in an emotional “flow”, which helps separate intros from true Self, and thus choose a congruent path of life fulfilment. Absence of internal conflicts, which are manifested in a sense of hopelessness and psychosomatic disorders, can serve as an indicator showing correctness of the made choices.