The EQ Difference

CHAPTER 3

THE WAY WE ARE WIRED

Habit is stronger than reason.—Santayana

Arudimentary understanding of the science of our brain is necessary to understand hijacking. Emotions are rooted in our brains and our biochemistry; they are not simply a matter of the heart. A growing body of research in many disciplines, including neuroscience, psychology, leadership, and medicine, has shed light on the make-up and role of emotions.

Emotional signals originate in the brain and are felt throughout the body.¹ Although unknown to us, some of the common language we use actually has a scientific basis. For example, when we talk about a gut reaction, or we say something makes our stomachs turn, or the words are stuck in our throat, or it's a pain in the neck, ...