Scientists Identify The Brain’s Emotional IQ Centers – And Prove It With A Marshmallow

By on February 2, 2010 in News 2

People with high emotional intelligence tend to be more successful in life than those with a lower score – even without a higher IQ! (I love how Stanford proved this – using a marshmallow with children!) And now scientists have also pinpointed the brain locations responsible for two kinds of emotional intelligence: experiential and strategic.

Researchers at the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke in Bethesda performed studies on 38 injured veterans (along with 29 control subjects).

And yes, this article also includes a link where you can test your own Emotional IQ…

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  • 5by5

    I would argue that the experiment doesn’t measure emotional intelligence at all.

    Rather, the kids who didn’t just go ahead and eat the marshmallow are indicative of those who have very little confidence in their own ability to con the adult into giving them the second marshmallow IN SPITE of the fact that they already ate the first one.

    It also shows a lack of independence from the dictates of authority figures, and an inability to take control & drive their own destiny.

    A smart kid would disable the camera, eat the marshmallow, then sneak out of the room, find where the grown-ups stored the rest of the marshmallows, and make off with several bags to enjoy at his leisure.
    :-)

    But when the adult sat them down and gave them those instructions and told them to wait, the primary indicator of a smart kid would be if they simply asked, “Why?”

    As in, “Bitch, do I look like a guinea pig to you? Why should I jump through your silly hoop? Who the hell are you?”
    :-)

  • 5by5

    I would argue that the experiment doesn't measure emotional intelligence at all.

    Rather, the kids who didn't just go ahead and eat the marshmallow are indicative of those who have very little confidence in their own ability to con the adult into giving them the second marshmallow IN SPITE of the fact that they already ate the first one.

    It also shows a lack of independence from the dictates of authority figures, and an inability to take control & drive their own destiny.

    A smart kid would disable the camera, eat the marshmallow, then sneak out of the room, find where the grown-ups stored the rest of the marshmallows, and make off with several bags to enjoy at his leisure.

    :-)

    But when the adult sat them down and gave them those instructions and told them to wait, the primary indicator of a smart kid would be if they simply asked, “Why?”

    As in, “Bitch, do I look like a guinea pig to you? Why should I jump through your silly hoop? Who the hell are you?”

    :-)