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To our Canadian friends on the thread. Time to go to work on your Emotional Intelligence.... <gg> Jeff
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NEW STUDY: AMERICANS HAVE HIGHER EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE THAN CANADIANS AVERAGE US EQ SCORE OF 103 BEATS CANADA'S 95, EH?
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Story Filed: Thursday, July 15, 1999 10:02 AM EST
TORONTO and BUFFALO, N.Y., Jul 15, 1999 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Ask most Americans how they differ from Canadians, and you're more likely to hear about how we're pretty much the same as our neighbors to the North. Aside from fanaticism about hockey, cold weather tolerance, and use of the word 'eh,' many Americans believe Canadians are 'just like us.' But now original new research shows there are major differences in the emotional makeup of the two countries, which share the world's longest undefended border and the largest bilateral economic relationship.
The first-ever study comparing the emotional intelligence of Americans vs. Canadians demonstrates that Americans score higher on Emotional Intelligence (EQ). EQ, which is not the same as IQ (cognitive intelligence), includes one's ability to be aware of and control emotions, get along with others, manage stress, adapt to change, and maintain a positive mood.
"This is the first emotional intelligence study that directly compares a large representative sample of Americans with Canadians," says Dr.Steven Stein, psychologist and President of Multi-Health Systems (MHS). Dr. Stein and his organization have tested the EQ of more than 33,000 of people fromall over the world, as well as the US and Canada (for clients which include the militaries of both countries). The test used is the BarOn Emotional Intelligence Inventory (EQ-i) which was developed by Israeli psychologist Dr. Reuven Bar-On and published by Multi-Health Systems.
For this study, 4,000 Americans and Canadians, closely representing each country's census, were selected. This number was pared down even further to 1,552, carefully matched for age and gender, with all regions of Canada and the US represented. The average EQ score in the population was determined to be 100. The average American scored 103 and the average Canadian scored 95, the difference being significantly different.
There are 15 different EQ factors used in the EQ-i test including emotional self-awareness, assertiveness, flexibility, stress tolerance, happiness and optimism. According to Dr. Stein, Americans score significantly higher in both total EQ and in a number of the specific factors. "The biggest differences," according to Dr. Stein, "were in assertiveness, reality testing, happiness, and optimism, where Americans score significantly higher."
Assertiveness (Americans 104, Canadians 97) Assertiveness, unlike aggressiveness, is defined by the ability to express one's thoughts and feelings in a non-destructive way. While Canadians may often interpret Americans as more 'aggressive,' US citizens may, in fact,be more able to express their thoughts and feelings to others. This may be in contrast to 'holding thoughts in' and appearing to be more 'polite,' traits typically associated with Canadians.
Psychologists have long regarded assertiveness to be a more healthy form ofexpression.
Reality Testing (Americans 103, Canadians 96) The concept of reality testing refers to the ability to accurately reador size up one's environment. People high in reality testing tend to be good at looking at situations and getting a clear understanding of what's happening. High scores in this area tend to be found in engineers and scientists.
Happiness (Americans 101, Canadians 94) and Optimism (Americans 102, Canadians 95)
Happiness and Optimism, as measured by the EQ-i, are ways of coping with the environment as opposed to being caused by outside factors. "Happy people tend to have a more upbeat mood regardless of the situation," says Dr. Stein, "and optimism has to do with a person's way of dealing with adversity." Dr. Stein, who studies EQ in 'star performers,' has found that in many occupational groups -- including elite athletes -- an optimistic frame of mind is a big part of the formula for success. "Optimism," says Stein, "is much more than a Pollyanna attitude towards the world. It means having a definable set of skills that help you cope successfully with the ups and downs of life."
One area in which Americans and Canadians scored equally was in Flexibility. This measures one's ability to cope with change.
"The good news for Canadians," says Dr. Stein, a Canadian, "is that EQcan be improved. This study shows where Canadians need work. By emphasizing these skills in school and through training we can increase our skill levels, which could lead to more satisfying and productive lives. People high in EQ have been found to perform better at work, have better marriages, and deal more effectively with health problems."
In his book, The EQ Edge: Emotional Intelligence and Your Success, co-authored with psychiatrist Dr. Howard Book and due to be released next year, Dr. Stein will be outlining strategies for developing emotional intelligence skills.
Multi-Health Systems, Inc. MHS is a knowledge-based company engaged in the development, marketing and delivery of high quality, standardized and integrated behavioral assessment and diagnostic products as well as practice and treatment management products and services. MHS's clients are human resource, counseling, mental health professionals in corporate, educational, forensic, correctional andclinicalorganizations.
MHS is the publisher of the BarOn EQ-i, which is the world's first comprehensive and scientific measure of emotional intelligence. The BarOn EQ-i test was introduced by MHS in 1997 and has now been taken by more than 33,000 people in 27 countries worldwide.
BarOn Emotional Quotient Inventory and BarOn EQ-i are registered trademarks of Multi-Health Systems, Inc.
SOURCE Multi-Health Systems, Inc. (C) 1999 PR Newswire. All rights reserved. prnewswire.com
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