1st Edition

The Neuroscience of Emotional Intelligence and its Applications to Education and Organizations

By João Ascenso Copyright 2025
    248 Pages 46 B/W Illustrations
    by Routledge

    248 Pages 46 B/W Illustrations
    by Routledge

    This book provides a clear understanding of the neuro mechanisms of emotional intelligence and its applications to education and organizations through practical exercises.

    Divided into three parts, the book begins by explaining the data that helps us understand the neural mechanisms of emotional intelligence. Part 2 focuses on application in educational contexts by presenting emotional intelligence education programs for children and adolescents, as well as an analysis of emotional intelligence from a practical point of view. Part 3 switches the focus to organizations through the Leadership with Emotional and Social Intelligence model as proposed and validated by Daniel Goleman and Richard Boyatzis. Both parts offer a series of practical and engaging exercises for application to adolescents, children and educators, and organizational environments respectively. Presented simply, the book gives a scientifically rigorous and structured overview of how neuroscience has helped in understanding the neural mechanisms of emotions and its applications.

    It is indispensable reading for neuroscientists, psychologists, leaders, managers, teachers, and educators, and all those interested in the search for personal and professional success.

    Introduction

    Part I. What Neuroscience can Teach us about Emotional Intelligence

    1.The Neural Bases of Emotions

    2. The Broaden and Build Theory of Positive Emotions

    3. Complexity, Evolution and the Neural Bases of Self

    4. The Brain Mechanisms of Emotional Self-Awareness

    5. The Neural Bases of Emotional Self-Control

    6. The Science of Human Relationships and its Relationship with Neuroscience

    Part II. Emotional Intelligence Applied to Education

    7. Educational Programs in Emotional Intelligence

    8. Dimensions of Focus of Emotional Intelligence: Self and Others

    9. Emotional Intelligence Exercises

    Part III - Emotional Intelligence Applied to Organizations

    10. Leadership with Emotional and Social Intelligence

    11. Exercises

    12. Suggestions of Answers for all the Exercises

    13. Conclusion

    Biography

    João Ascenso is CEO of a Multinational Company headquartered in Dubai called International Institute for Executive Education and Positive Change for Business Prosperity L.L.C-FZ and Senior Consultant in Organizational Behavior for Duke Kunshan University, and Future Director, Center for the Sustainable Development of Africa.

    “An engaging perspective on emotion and the brain. Joao Ascenso here gives a tour of neuroscience efforts to map basic emotions onto particular brain systems, provides a discussion of how this relates to higher emotions and the human self, and gives practical tips and ways to help improve emotional self-regulation."

    Kent Berridge, James Olds Distinguished University Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Michigan, USA.

    “Joao Ascenso provides a helpful and exhaustive mapping of the neural bases of emotions as a means for understanding the neural bases of emotional intelligence. This mapping paves the way for a useful description of emotional intelligence approaches in schools and organizations. The book serves as a valuable reference for anyone interested in the neuroscientific foundations of emotional intelligence.”

    Jane Dutton, Robert L. Kahn Distinguished University Professor Emeritus of Business Administration and Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA.
    Co–Director, Center for Positive Organizational Scholarship, and Former President, National Academy of Management.

    "By leveraging the scientific precision and power of the neurosciences to strengthen the “softer” studies of human emotions, we are now witnessing the revolutionary potential for truly elevating the human condition of the world. The Neuroscience of Emotional Intelligence and its Applications to Education and Organizations, by João Ascenso, provides one of the most comprehensive and deeply referenced book volumes in this domain. The book is both intellectually nourishing and a visionary synthesis--a one-stop shop. It provides a panoramic view not only of cutting-edge neuroscience in relation to emotions and emotional intelligence but also illuminates its relevance for the betterment of education and our lives in groups, in leadership, and more fully human organizations ".

    David Cooperrider, University Distinguished Professor, holds the Covia - David L. Cooperrider Professorship in Appreciative Inquiry at the Weatherhead School of Management, and Faculty Founder, Fowler Center for Business as an Agent of World Benefit Weatherhead School of Management, Case Western Reserve University, USA.