Types of emotional people according to their management

A Spectrum of Emotional Awareness

We are not all the same in how we relate to the torrent of our emotions.

Based on the pioneering work of psychologist John Mayer, we can identify a spectrum of emotional management styles, which can be grouped into three main profiles.

Understanding where we fall on this spectrum is a fundamental exercise in self-awareness, as it reveals our habitual pattern and shows us the path to greater emotional mastery.

The "Submerged" Profile

At one end of the spectrum is the "submerged" or "engulfed" person. This individual feels completely at the mercy of their emotions.

For them, feelings are like giant waves that sweep them away, with nothing they can do to resist.

There is no separation between them and their emotion; when they are angry, it is their anger. When they're sad, it's their sadness.

They live in a constant state of reactivity, overwhelmed by their impulses and unaware that they have any control or choice over their internal state.

Their emotional life is often chaotic and volatile, marked by unpredictable ups and downs.

The "Accepting" Profile

One step further on the spectrum of awareness is the "accepting" person.

This profile represents a significant advance, as these people are aware of their emotions.

They know when they are sad, happy, or anxious. However, their attitude toward these feelings is passive.

They accept them as an immutable fact, as if it were the weather.

"Today I feel depressed," they say, and they resign themselves to spending the day under this emotional cloud without trying to change it.

Although they are aware, they do not feel empowered or do not know the tools to actively manage their state.

They accept their emotions, but they do not lead them.

The "Self-Aware" Profile

At the most evolved end of the spectrum is the "self-aware" person. This is the ideal of emotional intelligence.

This individual not only recognizes their emotions, but also deeply understands them and, most importantly, knows they have the ability to choose how to respond to them.

They understand that although an emotion like anger may arise spontaneously, they have the choice not to be influenced by it.

They can observe the emotion, decide if it is an appropriate and helpful response to the situation, and if it is not, actively use regulation strategies to change their state.

This person is not a victim of their emotions, but the wise manager of their inner world.