What Is Emotional Intelligence?

Overview

The Emotional IQ Test is the result of the most up-to-date scientific research on Emotional Intelligence. Each of the four parts of the test has been studied over a several-year period, with hundreds of people participating in the research's early phases. The Emotional IQ Test is a scientifically validated instrument and is the only psychological test available which measures Emotional Intelligence as it is defined by the developers of the theory.

The Emotional IQ Test is a performance test, which sets it apart from other purported tests of Emotional Intelligence which are simply self-report measures. A self-report test of intelligence would ask you questions about what you believe your intelligence to be. For example, an item on such a test might be "Are you good at guessing what other people feel?" and you would answer Yes or No. The Emotional IQ Test directly measures your performance on Emotional Intelligence tasks.

The theory of Emotional Intelligence is new, and so, this test is presented to satisfy your curiosity about Emotional Intelligence and to assist you in your continued self-education.

Emotional Intelligence allows us to think more creatively and to use our emotions to solve problems. Emotional Intelligence probably overlaps to some extent with general intelligence.

People with a great deal of Emotional Intelligence are likely to behave in positive and pro-social ways, but there is no requirement that they do so to be considered emotionally intelligent.

Here is an expanded definition of the four components of Emotional Intelligence:

Identifying Emotions

The first, and perhaps most basic, part of Emotional Intelligence, is the ability to recognize how you and those around you are feeling. That is why Identifying Emotions in people, music, and art is part of Emotional Intelligence.

Using Emotions

Emotions can help us with our thinking. This part of Emotional Intelligence includes the ability to generate emotions and then reason with this emotion. Being emotional, and being able to use your emotions may also help you to understand how someone else feels, or to take emotional sides. Considering multiple perspectives is another part of Emotional Intelligence.

Understanding Emotions

Understanding Emotions refers to knowing what happens as emotions get stronger, or how people react to different emotions. Some emotions are more complex than others, formed through the combination of simpler emotions. The ability to understand complex emotions is part of Emotional Intelligence. This component also understands emotional "chains," how emotions transition from one stage to another.

Regulating Emotions

Regulating Emotions means that you feel the feeling rather than repressing it and then use the feeling to make a better decision. Reacting out of anger can be effective in the short-run, but anger which is channelled and directed may be more effective in the long-run. Regulating Emotions is an ability which allows you to manage emotions in your self and in others.

What Else Do You Need?

Emotional Intelligence does not operate in isolation. Emotional Intelligence also works with emotional styles such as extroversion, warmth and emotionality. You can be emotionally intelligent whether you are an extrovert or an introvert, warm or aloof, emotional or calm. These styles, or traits, may influence the way you express and use your Emotional Intelligence. Of course, you also need other skills or abilities to succeed in your life and in your career. Emotional Intelligence is but one of many necessary skills.

Is Emotional Intelligence Important?

Emotional Intelligence and Life

In some ways, interest in Emotional Intelligence has been due in part to a backlash against claims that general intelligence - IQ - is the key to success. We know that IQ does predict academic achievement and occupational status, but it still only predicts about 20% of personal variation in these areas. Psychologists have yet to understand what predicts the other 80% of success in these areas of life. We believe that Emotional Intelligence is one of the abilities which are related to life success, but we are as yet unable to determine just how important Emotional Intelligence is.

So, where does Emotional Intelligence fit in? Despite popular reports to the contrary, there are few relevant studies on the matter to date. Our best guess is that Emotional Intelligence will make a unique contribution in the 5% to 10% range.

It makes sense that Emotional Intelligence plays a role in our friendships, parenting, and intimate relationships. Our research, to date, is just beginning to examine these issues in depth.

Emotional Intelligence and Work

One area where recent research on Emotional Intelligence has been conducted is in the area of careers. One study gathered people's estimates of how much Emotional Intelligence is necessary for a given career (these estimates may differ from what is actually required, but they are the best available at this early stage). That research indicates that some careers allow you to use higher levels of Emotional Intelligence than others.