Emotional Quotient, EQ

CORE DEFINITION

Emotional Quotient (EQ) or Emotional Intelligence (EI), often abbreviated as EQ, is an index of one's ability to control emotions. It was established by American psychologist Peter Salovey in 1991 and belongs to the field of developmental psychology. EQ is the ability to recognize, understand, and control emotions. However, some question whether EQ is an extension of intellectual ability. Unlike IQ, EQ can be improved through guidance. Daniel Goleman and other researchers have developed the concept of EQ and claim that it is at least as important as traditional IQ. Proponents of multiple intelligences theory generally believe that measuring the g factor is the best measure of academic ability. They argue that other types of intelligence are equally important outside of formal education; in response, researchers of the g factor argue that when actual measurements are made (Hunt 2001), multiple intelligences theory has not yet been born.