Emotional and Social Intelligence

This article explores the role of the brain's right hemisphere in emotional and social intelligence, emphasising its importance in psychotherapy. It discusses how the right hemisphere is critical for an intuitive sense of reality, emotional awareness, empathy, and social responsiveness. In contrast, the left hemisphere is associated with a more literal, mechanistic understanding of the world. The article highlights cases where damage to one hemisphere alters perception and emotional processing, illustrating the right hemisphere's superiority in understanding context, facial expressions, and emotional narratives. The text also delves into the concept of "Theory of Mind," the capacity to empathise and understand others' perspectives, often impaired in conditions like autism and schizophrenia. Overall, the article underscores the crucial role of the right hemisphere in navigating the complexities of human social and emotional life.

  • Understand the role of the right hemisphere in emotional and social intelligence.

  • Identify the differences in how the right and left hemispheres process reality and emotions.

  • Explore the concept of "Theory of Mind" and its neurological basis in the right hemisphere.

  • Analyze how damage to the right or left hemisphere can affect perception and emotional processing.

  • Discuss the implications of right hemisphere dominance in empathy, social responsiveness, and psychotherapy.

  • Examine the neurological and psychological impacts of hemispheric imbalances on conditions like schizophrenia, autism, and borderline personality disorder.

Become a Member