The Intricate Web: Exploring the Relationships Between Emotional Intelligence, Trauma, and Working Memory Performance

Emotional Intelligence

Emotional intelligence (EI) refers to the ability to perceive, express, understand, and manage emotions (Mayer et al., 2004). It has been conceptualised in various ways, primarily falling into three main models: ability-based, trait-based, and mixed models (Pérez-González et al., 2021). The ability model, developed by Mayer and Salovey, views EI as a form of innate intelligence comprising several capacities that influence how people understand and manage their own emotions and those of others. These emotion processing skills include: (1) perception, evaluation and expression of emotions, (2) emotional facilitation of thought, (3) understanding and analysis of emotions, and (4) reflective regulation of emotions (Mayer et al., 2016).

The trait model, proposed by Petrides and Furnham, conceptualises EI as a constellation of emotional self-perceptions located at the lower levels of personality hierarchies (Pérez-González et al., 2021). The mixed model, exemplified by Goleman’s work, combines both ability and trait aspects of EI (Goleman, 1998).

Research has demonstrated that EI plays a crucial role in various aspects of life, particularly in professional settings. Studies have shown that EI can help change employee attitudes and behaviours in jobs involving emotional demands by increasing job satisfaction and reducing job stress (Pérez-González et al., 2021). Moreover, EI has been found to be related to less psychological distress and can serve to develop resilience, which is a protective variable against psychological distress (Pérez-González et al., 2021).

Trauma

Trauma is defined as an event, series of events, or set of circumstances experienced by an individual as physically or emotionally harmful or threatening and that has lasting adverse effects on the individual’s functioning and mental, physical, social, emotional, or spiritual well-being (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2014). Traumatic events can occur at various levels, including individual (e.g., childhood and adult physical, sexual, and emotional abuse or neglect), family (e.g., parental loss, incarceration, mental illness), community (e.g., experiences of racism, xenophobia, and discrimination), and historical (e.g., slavery, genocide, colonisation).

The impact of trauma, particularly when experienced during critical periods of development, can be profound and long-lasting. The Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) study identified categories of adversities experienced by age 18 that can lead to significant health challenges later in life (Felitti et al., 1998). Research has shown that individuals with multiple ACEs are at significantly higher risk for various physical and mental health issues, including cardiovascular disease, chronic respiratory disease, depression, and substance abuse (Hughes et al., 2017).

Working Memory Performance

Working memory refers to the ability to simultaneously manipulate and store information (Cowan, 2017). It plays a crucial role in processes involving language comprehension, reasoning, and planning, making it a key component in analysing cognition. The concept of working memory evolved from the classical understanding of short-term memory, as proposed by Baddeley and Hitch in 1974 (Baddeley, 2000).

Working memory performance can be measured through various tasks, such as complex span tasks, n-back tasks, and running memory span tasks (Conway et al., 2005). These tasks assess an individual’s ability to manipulate and store information simultaneously, with higher scores indicating better working memory performance.

The Interplay Between Emotional Intelligence, Trauma, and Working Memory Performance

Research has revealed significant connections between emotional intelligence, trauma, and working memory performance. These relationships have important implications for understanding human cognition and behaviour.

Impact of Trauma on Emotional Intelligence

Gottfredson and Becker (2021) argue that past psychological trauma impacts later emotional intelligence capabilities. They present evidence that psychological trauma impairs the brain areas and functions that support EI. Specifically, they found that psychological trauma can impair the Salience Network (SN) and the Default Mode Network (DMN), which are crucial for emotional processing and regulation.

The SN, including areas such as the amygdala and anterior insula, is the primary hub for the feeling, awareness, and processing of emotions, as it is in charge of automatic emotional attention (Gottfredson & Becker, 2021). People with physical damage to the brain areas within the SN have been found to have a diminished ability to detect fearful and other negative facial expressions, recognize dramatic music intended to evoke fear, experience the feelings of fear, be reliable and reputable partners, extend the appropriate level of trust to others, and demonstrate empathy and control aggression (Gottfredson & Becker, 2021).

The DMN plays a strong role in the interpretation, recognition, and regulation of emotion (Gottfredson & Becker, 2021). People who have experienced physical damage to the brain areas within the DMN have diminished ability to emotionally regulate oneself, engage in appropriate social behaviour, be self-aware, engage in self-sight or self-reflection, and be focused (as opposed to reactive) (Gottfredson & Becker, 2021).

These findings suggest that trauma can significantly impair an individual’s emotional intelligence capabilities, potentially leading to lower EI. This connection provides a potential explanation for why EI might vary across individuals and suggests a method for improving EI through healing from past trauma.

Impact of Mood on Working Memory Performance

Studies have shown that mood can significantly impact working memory performance. Rączy and Orzechowski (2021) discovered that participants induced into a positive mood performed better on a working memory task compared to those induced into a negative mood. Specifically, they found that happiness (positive mood) led to better performance than sadness (negative mood).

Interestingly, the emotional valence of words used in working memory tasks also impacts performance. Participants performed better when processing positive or negative words compared to emotionally neutral words. This suggests that emotional content, whether positive or negative, may enhance working memory processing (Rączy & Orzechowski, 2021).

The Role of Anger in Working Memory Performance

While much research has focused on the effects of happiness and sadness on working memory, less is known about the impact of anger. Some evidence suggests that anger may function similarly to happiness in enhancing working memory capacity. Bodenhausen et al. (1994, as cited in Rączy & Orzechowski, 2021) found that both happy and angry moods increased stereotypical thinking, enhanced reliance on pre-existing knowledge structures, and showed a higher tendency to judge social information that conformed with pre-existing beliefs and expectations.

These findings imply that happiness and anger may have similar effects on executive control, which includes working memory. However, more research is needed to fully understand the relationship between anger and working memory performance.

Long-term Effects of Trauma on Cognitive Performance

A study by Lachman and Lynch (2020) found that individuals who suffer trauma in childhood and adulthood may experience a greater amount of cognitive decline as they age than individuals who haven’t experienced trauma. The research, published in the Journal of Traumatic Stress, also found that recent trauma suffered in adulthood has a larger impact on some aspects of cognitive functioning than trauma in childhood.

The study involved roughly 2,500 adults, ages 28 to 84, who were tested on their cognitive abilities in two areas: executive functioning (EF) and episodic memory (EM). Those respondents who said they had experienced more traumatic events showed greater declines in both EF and EM over the course of nine years (Lachman & Lynch, 2020).

Chiasson et al. (2021) conducted an exploratory fMRI study examining the influence of emotion on working memory among men with histories of childhood sexual abuse (CSA). The study provided preliminary empirical evidence of the impact CSA can have on men regarding working memory when negative stimuli are involved. This research highlights the long-lasting effects of childhood trauma on cognitive functioning, particularly in the context of emotional processing.

Conclusion

The interplay between emotional intelligence, trauma, and working memory performance is complex and multifaceted. Trauma can significantly impact an individual’s emotional intelligence, potentially leading to lower EI capabilities. This, in turn, can affect various aspects of cognitive functioning, including working memory performance.

Understanding these relationships is crucial for developing effective interventions and support strategies. For instance, addressing past trauma may be a key component in improving emotional intelligence. Similarly, recognising the impact of mood on working memory performance can inform strategies for optimising cognitive function in various settings, from education to the workplace.

Future research should continue to explore these connections, particularly focusing on the long-term effects of trauma on emotional intelligence and cognitive performance. Additionally, investigating potential interventions that can mitigate the negative impacts of trauma on EI and working memory could provide valuable insights for improving mental health and cognitive functioning across diverse populations.