Worklife with Adam Grant Merve Emre on Emotional Intelligence as Corporate Control
48 snips
Jun 8, 2021 In this discussion, Merve Emre, an Associate Professor of English at the University of Oxford and a contributor to The New Yorker, dives deep into emotional intelligence's darker side. She argues that rather than fostering genuine connection, it can be weaponized as a tool of corporate control. Emre critiques the methods of measuring emotional intelligence and the social expectations around emotional labor in the workplace. The conversation touches on the importance of authenticity and the need for systemic change to enhance workplace culture.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Merve's Introduction to EQ
- Merve Emre's parents gave her Daniel Goleman's "Emotional Intelligence" when she was 10.
- She felt it was meant to address a deficiency, but she never read it and hasn't taken an EQ test.
Emotional Labor Origins
- Emotional intelligence is rooted in the sociological concept of emotional labor.
- It's how service sector employees use emotions for corporate profit.
Social Differentiation vs. Individual Capacity
- Individual emotional capacity might matter less in professional settings.
- Social differentiation plays a bigger role in who gets hired and why.
