Is it possible that emotional intelligence in Chinese culture versus in, say, British culture means something different?

 

Why do some conversations feel natural and effortless in one culture, yet awkward or confusing in another? What if emotional intelligence isn’t a universal skill you either have or don’t, but something that changes meaning depending on where you are? In this discussion, we’ll explore how different cultures express, interpret, and manage emotions in very different ways, and why this means emotional intelligence looks different across contexts. Rather than ranking cultures as “more” or “less” emotionally intelligent, we’ll examine how values, habits, and communication styles shape what emotional awareness actually means in practice.

 

Using real-world examples and simple, practical tools, we’ll look at how to distinguish feelings from facts, notice the stories we tell ourselves in cross-cultural situations, and reframe them when they get in the way. The goal is not to suppress emotion or overanalyse it, but to communicate with greater awareness, respect, and confidence when working across cultures. This is a thoughtful, accessible discussion that helps participants better understand both others and themselves—and navigate emotional complexity without assuming there’s only one right way to do it.

 

有没有一种可能，在中国文化里讲的情绪智力，和比如英国文化里的情绪智力，其实指的并不是同一回事？

 

为什么有些对话在一种文化中会显得自然又顺畅，换到另一种文化里却让人觉得别扭甚至摸不着头脑？如果情绪智力并不是一种“要么有、要么没有”的通用能力，而是会随着所处文化不同而改变含义的东西，那会怎样？在这场讨论中，我们会一起看看不同文化是如何用非常不同的方式来表达、理解和处理情绪的，也会聊聊为什么这会让情绪智力在不同语境下呈现出完全不同的样子。我们不会给文化贴上“情绪智力高或低”的标签，而是会去理解价值观、行为习惯和沟通方式，究竟是如何塑造了现实中的情绪觉察。

 

通过真实生活中的例子和一些简单、实用的小工具，我们会练习区分感受和事实，觉察自己在跨文化情境中给事情编织的“内心叙事”，以及当这些叙事开始妨碍沟通时，如何重新调整它们。目标不是压抑情绪，也不是过度分析情绪，而是在跨文化交流中，用更清醒的觉察、更基本的尊重和更稳的自信去沟通。这是一场偏思考型、但并不晦涩的讨论，能帮助参与者更好地理解他人，也更了解自己，在面对情绪的复杂性时，不默认世界上只有一种“正确做法”。