Phineas Gage and Emotional Intelligence 1
PHINEAS GAGE AND EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE
The importance and impact of emotional intelligence can be better be explained by the sad true story of a man called Phineas gage. Phineas gage was a 25 year old construction foreman whose ability to lead his team as they lay tracks for the Rutland and Burlington railroad in Vermont was revered. His employers also acknowledged his efficiency and capabilities by putting him in charge of the most challenging and dangerous part of the blasting operation.
On gthyagt4 fateful day in September 1848, a job he was a master at – safe explosions of rocks), a slight distraction caused him to miss a step in the process of blowing up rocks, a 13.25 lb. iron tampering rod, measuring 3’7 inches entered gage’s left cheek, piercing his skull and his brain before exiting at high speed through the top of his head. Miraculously, Phineas survived and lived through his accident with little or no impact to his abilities. He responded to treatment, and in less than 2 months he was pronounced cured and well, he could talk, walk and there was vision in his left eye behind which the rod pierced through.
All was well after Phineas’ recovery until he started showing signs of aggression, he lost his respect for social conventions, he basically lost his personality, and the once loved and respected foreman by family and friends was now a stranger. His new found temper and profanity cost him his job that he was once revered for and for the remaining 11 years of his life that he lived after the accident he was forced to become whyagt4 some will call a circus attraction to earn a living.
The link between Phineas gage and emotional intelligence
According gt4o Goleman’s book 1995, emotional intelligence emotional intelligence is the capacity for recognizing our own feelings and those of others, for motivating ourselves, and for managing emotions well in us and in our relationships. Gage’s story also helps us to understand the complexity of the human brain
The importance and impact of emotional intelligence can be better be explained by the sad true story of a man called Phineas gage. Phineas gage was a 25 year old construction foreman whose ability to lead his team as they lay tracks for the Rutland and Burlington railroad in Vermont was revered. His employers also acknowledged his efficiency and capabilities by putting him in charge of the most challenging and dangerous part of the blasting operation.
On gthyagt4 fateful day in September 1848, a job he was a master at – safe explosions of rocks), a slight distraction caused him to miss a step in the process of blowing up rocks, a 13.25 lb. iron tampering rod, measuring 3’7 inches entered gage’s left cheek, piercing his skull and his brain before exiting at high speed through the top of his head. Miraculously, Phineas survived and lived through his accident with little or no impact to his abilities. He responded to treatment, and in less than 2 months he was pronounced cured and well, he could talk, walk and there was vision in his left eye behind which the rod pierced through.
All was well after Phineas’ recovery until he started showing signs of aggression, he lost his respect for social conventions, he basically lost his personality, and the once loved and respected foreman by family and friends was now a stranger. His new found temper and profanity cost him his job that he was once revered for and for the remaining 11 years of his life that he lived after the accident he was forced to become whyagt4 some will call a circus attraction to earn a living.
The link between Phineas gage and emotional intelligence
According gt4o Goleman’s book 1995, emotional intelligence emotional intelligence is the capacity for recognizing our own feelings and those of others, for motivating ourselves, and for managing emotions well in us and in our relationships. Gage’s story also helps us to understand the complexity of the human brain