Consider the following questions: Can you think of an individual who is extremely smart but at the same time has very poor social skills? Have you ever had a boss, supervisor, or teacher who seemed emotionally detached or seemingly unable to read others’ emotions? Do you have that one family member who is virtually impossible to get along with? All of these questions are related to the concept of emotional intelligence. As noted in Chapter 8 of your textbook (page 336), emotional intelligence (EQ) refers to the capacity to understand and manage your own emotional experiences and to perceive, comprehend, and respond appropriately to the emotional responses of others. In order to function successfully and interact in a positive way with others, it is important to understand that individuals have different levels of emotional intelligence and may need to compensate for a poor understanding of others’ emotional states. Many researchers and mental health professionals regard emotional intelligence as important to learning, work, relationships, and mental health (e.g., Zeidner, Matthews, & Roberts, 2009). Drs. Mayer and Salovey have been credited with pioneering the field of emotional intelligence research. One of their original pieces of research can be found here: http://unh.edu/emotional_intelligence/EIAssets/EmotionalIntelligenceProper/EI1997MSWhatIsEI.pdf.

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