Emotions vs. Feelings

Emotions vs. Feelings

Although often used interchangeably, emotions and feelings are distinct psychological constructs. Emotions are automatic, unconscious bodily responses to internal or external events, such as facial expressions or changes in heart rate, and tend to be short-lived and universal across cultures. In contrast, feelings are the conscious, subjective interpretations of those emotions. They are longer-lasting, shaped by personal experience and culture, and primarily measured through self-reports. While emotions happen to us, feelings are shaped by how we interpret them.

Professional Presence and Soft Skills: A Role for Accounting Education

Professional Presence and Soft Skills: A Role for Accounting Education

20% of success in any career is believed to be based on intelligence: the ability to learn, understand and reason. The other 80% is based on the ability to understand oneself and interact with other people (Kirch, Tucker & Kirch, 2001).” An incremental laboratory experience was designed to create an environment for soft skill development that does not diminish the attention to accounting theory and technical development. Mandatory experiences were added to two required accounting classes starting in the spring of sophomore year. The lab experience includes: (1) Professional Motivation, (2) Emotional Intelligence, (3) Soft Skill Development, (4) Career Skills, and (5) Time Management.