對EQ與正向心理學的商榷   全文下載

EQ and Positive Psychology: A Critical Review

本文將近年來流行的EQ與正向心理學，用它們所宣稱的理論依據Aristotle的倫理學來檢視。發現正向心理學所強調的樂觀比較偏向動機的層次，而EQ所強調的情緒管理較接近Aristotle的「情緒的中庸」。本文檢討了EQ對正面情緒的重視，以及正向心理學對厄運的解釋型態和ABCDE模式。在教育的應用方面，是以英國的「學習的社會與情緒層面」為代表。結果發現，正向情緒固然可能帶來較多的好處，但也不能一概而論，兩者仍有一些共同的缺點：一、從Aristotle的倫理學來看，兩者只顧及情緒的部分，未針對情境來考量，且未能實質增進當事者的實踐智慧；二、對自我採取抽象主義的定位，只是單方面認為這些心理特質在任何情境都有效；三、用心理學實證的方法難以處理價值問題，只是將問題簡化，犯了化約主義的毛病；四、提高自尊的迷思；五、英國根據這兩個理論所實施的「學習的社會與情緒層面」，經評估之後，發現並未達顯著效果。

This article aims to investigate EQ and positive psychology against their declared theoretical origin-of Aristotelian ethics. Findings reveal that positive psychology plays an important role in motivation, and EQ stresses on emotion management which is akin to Aristotle’s the mean of emotion. The positive emotions in EQ, its explaining style, and the ABCDE model in positive psychology are reviewed. In the field of education, the social and emotional aspects of learning (SEAL) programme under British education is also examined. Positive emotions are thought to be more beneficial than negative ones, but this is not necessarily true. There are common criticisms on both EQ and positive psychology, such as: 1. In view from Aristotelian ethics, only the mean of emotions is taken into account, and the mean of situation are neglected. The practical wisdom of practitioners is not necessarily enhanced. 2. Abstractionism is adopted for the existence of self. Those positive emotions are thought to be effective everywhere. 3. The empirical methods in psychological research is incompetent in terms of solving the problems connected with values. It commits reductionism. 4. The myth of high selfesteem. 5. The SEAL programme is evaluated with the result of “failed to impact significantly.”