Si Goleman Paper

Running head: SOCIAL INTELLIGENCE

Social Intelligence

Natasha Sharer

Argosy University

I believe that Goleman (2006) wrote this text to help the masses understand how we all connect interpersonally in all social situations. I think that he wrote this text in a way that is accessible for all, giving everyone an opportunity to create an understanding of one’s own social intelligence. Goleman (2006) is telling us that we are already wired with most of the skills that we need for good social intelligence, what the book does is offer a general understanding of how to use these skills in an effective and appropriate manner. According to Goleman (2006), we are all wired to connect to each other subconsciously to be aware of everyone around us, to be aware of their emotions and the signals that they put off.

What is Social Intelligence?

Goleman (2006) proposes the definition of social intelligence as a combination of social awareness and social facility. Social awareness is a four part cycle that ranges from automatically noticing someone else’s emotions, their inner thoughts and feelings, to be able to interpret difficult social situations. This cycle consists of:

Primal Empathy: Feeling those around you, noticing the nonverbal signals that we emotionally transmit.

Attunement: Being fully receptive to the person, using full concentration.

Empathic accuracy: Having a definite awareness of another person’s beliefs, desires and emotions.

Social cognition: Having awareness of the rules of person to person and group interactions within a given culture or situation.

Social facility is also a four part cycle, building on our use of social awareness and allowing us to glide through all types of social interactions in an effective manner. This cycle consists of:

Synchrony: Communicating gracefully on a nonverbal or subconscious level.

Self-presentation: Presenting ourselves to the people around us

Influence: Forming an end...