Video:Overview of Emotional Intelligence

Transcript:Overview of Emotional Intelligence

Hi I’m Hollie Hancock, here today with About.com to discuss an overview of emotional intelligence.

Emotional Intelligence is a Capacity for Understanding Feelings

What is emotional intelligence? One definition of emotional intelligence is the capacity for recognizing our own feelings and the feelings of others, for motivating others, and for managing our emotions well in ourselves and in our relationships.

In the 1930’s, Edward Thorndike presented the idea of "Social Intelligence" meaning that this was our ability to get along well with others. In the 1940’s, David Wechsler suggested the idea that effective components of intelligence may be essential to success in life. So how smart we are will determine how far we go in life.

In 1990, Psychologists Peter Salovey and John Mayer published their article, "Emotional Intelligence," in the journal Imagination, Cognition, and Personality.

Daniel Goleman's Book on Emotional Intelligence

Then, in 1995, the concept of "Emotional Intelligence" was popularized after publication of psychologist and New York Times science writer Daniel Goleman’s book Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ. Here’s an overview of Goleman’s work and his theoretical framework for Emotional Intelligence.

Self-Awareness is a Component of Emotional Intelligence

What does it mean to be self-aware? Well, according to Goleman, it means that we have an awareness of our emotions, we have an accurate picture or an accurate assessment of who we are as a person, we’re self-confident. Second, Self-Regulation: what does it mean to self-regulate? Well in this case, according to Goleman it means we have self-control, we’re trustworthy, we have a conscientiousness about ourselves and about the world around us, we’re adaptable.

Emotional Intelligence Includes Self-Motivation

What is your achievement and your commitment, and your drive and your passion? Do you have initiative and are you optimistic? Next, Social Awareness: how are you in terms of empathy toward those people around you? Do you serve people around you? Do you look for opportunities to leverage diversity and have those play to your benefit or to the benefit of an organization. And how are you in terms of political awareness? How do politics affect who you are or what you are?

Social Skills are a Sign of Emotional Intelligence

How are you at "winning friends and influencing people" as Dale Carnegie might say? How is your communication with others? Do you have leadership skills and capabilities that help you in social situations? Are you the catalyst for change? Are you good at conflict management? How well are you at working with teams? All of these things are considered to help you develop your Emotional Intelligence.

This has been a brief overview of the concept of Emotional Intelligence, a very vast and deep subject. If you’d like more information, visit us online at About.com.