Relevant research

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 Emotional intelligence (EI) refers to a person's ability to recognize, understand, and manage their own emotions, as well as the emotions of others. It includes the ability to perceive, express, understand, and regulate emotions, and the ability to use emotional information to guide thinking and behavior. EI can include a range of skills, such as empathy, self-awareness, self-regulation, and social skills. Research suggests that EI may be a key factor in a person's success in life, including in their personal and professional relationships. 

 The Polyvagal Theory is a theory of the evolution of the neural regulation of the autonomic nervous system, proposed by Stephen Porges in the 1990s. The theory suggests that the vagus nerve, which plays a key role in regulating the body's physiological response to stress, has undergone evolution in mammals, resulting in a two-stage neural response to threat: the "freeze" response and the "fight or flight" response. The theory also suggests that the development of the ability to regulate social engagement through vocalization and facial expression, which is controlled by the ventral branch of the vagus nerve, the Social Engagement System, is the most recent addition to the neural regulation of the autonomic nervous system and plays a key role in regulating social interactions, emotional expression and the ability to modulate stress responses. The theory is used to understand the neural basis of emotion, behavior, and disorders such as PTSD, autism, and anxiety disorders. 

 Deb Dana's Ladder of the Nervous System is a framework that describes how the nervous system responds to stress, trauma, and safety. The ladder is a visual representation of the different stages of the nervous system, from the highest level of regulation to the lowest.  Dana's Ladder explains how the nervous system responds to stress, trauma, and safety and how to move up and down the ladder depending on the situation. It also highlights how the social engagement system is the most recent addition to the neural regulation of the autonomic nervous system and plays a key role in regulating social interactions, emotional expression and the ability to modulate stress responses. 

 For the last 20 years, Dr. Daniela Sieff has been working to understand how trauma-worlds are created, and how they can be transformed. Drawing on both her own lived experience and the research done by others, she explores the internal environments that exist in our unconscious minds and bodies, and also the external environments that exist in our families, schools, communities, and therapeutic relationships.  

Brené Brown is a research professor at the University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work. She is well-known for her work on vulnerability, shame, and empathy and has written several books on these topics, including "The Gifts of Imperfection," "Daring Greatly," and "Rising Strong." Brown has also given several TED Talks, including "The Power of Vulnerability," which has over 50 million views on TED.com.