In order to correctly perceive feelings in others and ourselves – we first have to develop words for those feelings.
Emotional Granularity is the ability to differentiate between feelings and articulate our emotional experiences. Developing a larger and more complex feeling vocabulary helps students to better communicate with others about what and how they are feeling. This self awareness is critical to social emotional learning and development.
At the intermediate level, students most likely have the language needed to share thoughts and emotions. At this stage, they are interpreting and working through not only their own feelings but that of others. By engaging in discussions about the nuances and many underlying causes for emotions, students start to develop an awareness of the complexity of their emotional landscape and become more compassionate communicators.