Emotional intelligence

Emotional intelligence is the ability to deal effectively with the emotional sphere of human life: to understand emotions and the emotional underpinnings of relationships, and to use one's emotions to solve problems related to relationships and motivation. D. Goleman, author of Emotional Intelligence, defines it this way: "Emotional intelligence includes such abilities as the ability to develop motivation and persevere despite setbacks, to restrain impulses and delay gratification, to control one's moods and not let misery rob one of the ability to think, empathize and hope. The concept was introduced into scientific usage by P. Salovey and J. Mayer. The first concepts of EQ were conceived in 1990, and since then different authors have been interpreting the concept in a wide variety of ways. The ability model distinguishes the following hierarchically organised abilities that constitute EQ:

• Perception and expression of emotions
• Enhancing the effectiveness of thinking with emotion
• Understanding one's own and others' emotions
• Controlling emotions

The abilities to recognise and express emotions are the basis for generating emotions to solve specific tasks that are procedural in nature. These two classes of abilities (recognising and expressing emotions and using them in problem solving) are the basis for the externally manifested ability to understand events that precede and follow emotions. All of the above abilities are necessary for the internal regulation of one's own emotional states and for successful influences on the external environment that lead to the regulation of not only one's own but also others' emotions. Emotional intelligence in this concept is considered a subsystem of social intelligence.

EQ in popular psychology, Goleman's theory - a mixed model of EQ

It is how we deal with ourselves and our relationships. According to Goleman, emotional intelligence is a person's ability to interpret their own emotions and the emotions of others in order to use the information to realise their own goals. Four main components of EQ are distinguished:

• Self-awareness
• Self-control
• Empathy
• Relationship skills.

In fact, one of the most significant advances in the study of emotional culture came in 1980, when the psychologist Dr. Reuven Bar-On, an American-born Israeli, began his work in this field.

The concept of emotional intelligence in its populist form is often found in the literature on effective leadership. The four components of emotional intelligence are outlined above. Daniel Goleman identifies a fifth along with them: motivation.

Problems of theory

In order to scientifically justify the concept of Emotional Intelligence/Literacy, it is particularly important to address the problems associated with its measurement. Attempts to measure EQ/L through questionnaires and objective tests are analysed. Theoretical ideas about EQ/L are developed and compared with existing models of ability and personality. The existing empirical evidence does not allow us to speak of EQ/L as a single ability. If we understand intelligence as an ability, then it follows that for each ability we must have an intelligence. So why can't we talk about communicative intelligence, or bodily or physical intelligence? We can have countless such intelligences, to the point that if we have the ability to tie our shoelaces, there must be a corresponding intelligence for it. Although the importance of the ability to understand and manage emotions is not disputed by anyone.