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Emotional Intelligence for Success

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Emotional Intelligence for Success

PopTech,

5 min read
5 take-aways
Audio & text

What's inside?

To make a lasting change to your life, engage your emotions, not your willpower.


Editorial Rating

8

Qualities

  • Innovative
  • Applicable

Recommendation

If you have ever made a New Year’s resolution, you know how difficult it is to remain steadfast. In fact, 25% of resolutions fail within a week. Psychology professor David DeSteno explains that the rational approach to self-control – willpower – is flawed. He believes an alternative emotional-based method may raise your chances of success. getAbstract recommends DeSteno’s intriguing report to those who long to apply lasting change to their lives.

Summary

Self-control, or the ability to postpone a short-term reward in favor of a higher future payoff, is a definitive gauge of success, as social psychologist Walter Mischel proved. His marshmallow test found a link between kids’ individual abilities to delay momentary pleasure in lieu of future rewards and later personal success. Each subject could choose to eat one marshmallow immediately or to resist for a period of time in order to earn a second marshmallow. Those who sacrificed instant pleasure for future gains exhibited greater success later in life: They performed better academically, enjoyed healthier relationships, saved more money and accrued...

About the Speaker

David DeSteno is a professor of psychology at Northeastern University.


Comment on this summary

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    R. P. 12 months ago
    Nice.
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    J. T. 2 years ago
    I like the phrasing "Respect Your Future".
  • Avatar
    O. V. 7 years ago
    I miss a definition of the difference between willpower and self control.