How to Improve Emotional Intelligence and Social Skills among Adolescents: The Development and Test of a New Microexpressions Training

Abstract

This study focused on the development of emotion recognition of adolescents through the use of a microexpression training. The results showed that the new microexpression training developed for adolescents significantly affected the adolescents’ ability to detect microexpressions, however, it did not change their overall emotional intelligence and social skills. It was also found that girls had a better ability of detecting microexpressions, before and after the training. Emotion recognition is an essential element of emotional intelligence, therefore, the present study makes an important contribution by developing, and showing effectiveness of a new microexpression training designed for adolescents.