What is Emotional Intelligence (EI)?

Daniel Goleman Introduces Emotional Intelligence Links to an external site.

In his book, researcher Daniel Goleman, Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ  defines Emotional Intelligence (EI also known as EQ) as the:

“capacity for recognizing our own feelings and those of others, for motivating ourselves, and for managing emotions well in ourselves and our relationships.”

Emotional Intelligence is the unique repertoire of emotional skills that a person uses to navigate the everyday challenges of life. In his book research demonstrates that Emotional Intelligence may be more important than IQ for promoting academic, personal and occupational success.

EQ is about:

  • Understanding yourself, your goals, intentions, responses, behavior and all.
  • Understanding others, and their feelings.

Goleman identified the five 'domains' of EQ as:

  • Knowing your emotions.
  • Managing your own emotions.
  • Motivating yourself.
  • Recognizing and understanding other people's emotions.
  • Managing relationships, ie., managing the emotions of others.

Emotional Needs of Children/Adults:

  1. Accepted
  2. Believed in
  3. Cared about
  4. Forgiven
  5. Loved
  6. Safe
  7. Supported
  8. Trusted
  9. Understood
  10. Valued

(Taken from:  http://eqi.org/top_10_emotional_needs.htm Links to an external site.)

When our human emotional needs are not met then we experience an “unmet emotional need”.

Further Reading

Emotional Intelligence - Parenting and Respect Links to an external site.

Unmet Emotional Needs Links to an external site.

Test Your Emotional Intelligence Links to an external site.