Emotional Intelligence: Two Truths and a Lie
The study of emotion has its origins in ancient Greece and continues to evolve through ongoing research. In the past, “emotion” and “intelligence” were perceived as two concepts at odds with each other; however, modern-day research provides evidence that the opposite is true: emotions facilitate cognitive processes and individuals can have rational thoughts about emotions.
The concept known today as emotional intelligence was largely unnoticed by researchers and the general public until Dan Goleman published a best-selling book, Emotional Intelligence: Why it Can Matter More than IQ. Since then, the topic of emotional intelligence has been embraced by educators, psychologists, and corporate professionals, and has been incorporated into common practices due to the benefits attributed to emotional intelligence.
Despite over three decades of research, the study of emotional intelligence is still relatively new, resulting in common misconceptions about what it is, and why it is a topic of importance.
For example…
The definition of emotional Intelligence is commonly accepted and agreed upon by researchers and practitioners.
This is a lie; there is not a commonly accepted definition of emotional intelligence.
A few summarized definitions include:
A range of self-perceptions that predict the ability to handle emotional and environmental situations…
Competencies that involve self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, and social management…
The ability to solve problems using emotional data…
Critics of emotional intelligence theory cite the lack of a common definition as one of the main issues preventing a wider acceptance and understanding of the topic in academic settings. In corporate settings, emotional intelligence is used interchangeably to represent a variety of personality traits and behavioral tendencies. As a result, it can be difficult to determine what is true when it comes to the topic of emotional intelligence. For the purposes of this article, the use of the term “emotional intelligence” will refer to the definitions that have been summarized as “the ability to solve problems using emotional data.”
Gender and age contribute to differences in emotional Intelligence.
This is true.
One area of focus in emotional intelligence research is determining why there are differences in emotional intelligence between individuals or groups of people. Research on demographic predictors of emotional intelligence has revealed a significant relationship between age, gender, and emotional intelligence. Women, on average, have higher emotional intelligence than men. Emotional intelligence seems to be highest in men and women who are between the ages of 32–44 years old. Men older than age 45 are likely to have the lowest levels of emotional intelligence
Emotional Intelligence can result in positive personal and organizational outcomes.
This is true.
Emotional intelligence is positively correlated with happiness, positive emotion, and improved life satisfaction. It is also positively correlated with job satisfaction and organizational commitment. A significant, negative relationship exists between emotional intelligence and employee exhaustion.
As research continues to advance, we will undoubtedly have a greater understanding of where emotional intelligence comes from and the steps we can take to become more emotionally intelligent. An increased understanding of emotional intelligence will lead to insights that help individuals achieve personal satisfaction and optimal organizational outcomes.
