The application of emotional intelligence incorporated in therapy to a vehicle hijack survivor

Abstract

Hijacking is an invasive and confrontational traumatic event that impacts significantly on the survivor’s biopsychosocial functioning. The experience of trauma shatters assumptions held about oneself, others and the world. It brings with it a diverse set of consequences that could possibly threaten effective coping behaviour (Meischenbaum, 1994). The purpose of the proposed study is to explore the application of emotional intelligence (EI) incorporated in therapy to a vehicle hijack survivor. It is therefore my intention to research the application value of emotional intelligence therapy as a viable means of counselling a vehicle hijack survivor. This will be facilitated through developing emotional intelligence based coping skills. I hope to thereby promote the possibility of a significant relationship between the emotional reactions of a hijack survivor and the constructs of EI as included in the therapy programme. The therapy will be aimed at indicating the advantage of being able to label emotions and to recognise the similarities and distinctions between the various emotions and their related meanings, which should contribute to the development of emotional awareness. Gaining greater insight into the personal meanings that may underlie a survivor’s emotions, will hopefully contribute to a greater acceptance and capacity to self-regulate his/her emotional experiences thereby enhancing the possibility of more effective functioning and more distinct coping skills. This study will be conducted from a constructivist and interpretivistic paradigmatic framework. The research design will follow a QUALITATIVE-quantitative approach which will serve as a guideline for the data collection methods to be used.