emotional intelligence
C1Formal/Professional
Definition
Meaning
The capacity to be aware of, control, and express one's emotions, and to handle interpersonal relationships judiciously and empathetically.
A popularised psychological concept and skill set encompassing self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy, and social skills. It is often contrasted with traditional cognitive intelligence (IQ).
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The term functions as a compound noun. It is often abbreviated as 'EI' or 'EQ' (Emotional Quotient), particularly in business and psychology contexts.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical or grammatical differences. Both varieties use the term identically.
Connotations
Slightly more established in UK academic and business discourse, but widely used and recognized in both cultures.
Frequency
Common in both varieties, with similar frequency in professional and self-help contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
have + emotional intelligencedemonstrate + emotional intelligencedevelop + emotional intelligencea lack of + emotional intelligenceVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “To have a high EQ”
- “To be emotionally literate”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
In business, it refers to a leader's ability to manage teams, resolve conflicts, and inspire colleagues effectively.
Academic
In psychology and social sciences, it is a measurable construct studied for its impact on life outcomes, distinct from IQ.
Everyday
Used to describe someone who is perceptive about their own and others' feelings and behaves appropriately.
Technical
In specific psychological models (e.g., Goleman's, Mayer-Salovey), it has defined components like emotional perception, facilitation, understanding, and management.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- He is learning to emotionalise his intelligence.
- The course helps you emotional-intelligently navigate conflicts.
American English
- Managers should emotionally intelligent their approach.
- She emotional-intelligenced her way through the negotiation.
adverb
British English
- He responded emotionally intelligently to the criticism.
- She managed the team emotionally intelligently.
American English
- They dealt with the crisis emotionally intelligently.
- Act more emotionally intelligently in meetings.
adjective
British English
- He has an emotionally intelligent manner.
- An emotionally-intelligent response was required.
American English
- She is a very emotionally intelligent leader.
- We need emotionally intelligent policies.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- A good friend often has emotional intelligence.
- Teachers need emotional intelligence.
- Her emotional intelligence helped her understand why the customer was upset.
- Many companies now value emotional intelligence in their employees.
- Despite his high IQ, his lack of emotional intelligence damaged his working relationships.
- The workshop aims to develop participants' emotional intelligence through role-play exercises.
- The study correlated high levels of emotional intelligence with greater career longevity and satisfaction.
- Contemporary leadership theories posit emotional intelligence as a critical differentiator between competent and exceptional managers.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: EI = Empathy + Insight. The intelligence behind emotions.
Conceptual Metaphor
INTELLIGENCE IS A TOOL FOR NAVIGATING EMOTIONS (e.g., 'She used her emotional intelligence to defuse the situation').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct calque 'эмоциональный интеллект' without context, as it's a modern loan. The concept may be conveyed with phrases like 'эмоциональная компетентность' or 'умение понимать эмоции'.
Common Mistakes
- Using as a countable noun (e.g., 'an emotional intelligence'). It is generally non-count. Confusing it with simply being 'nice' or 'emotional'.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is NOT a core component of emotional intelligence?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. EI involves tough skills like self-regulation and honest empathy, which can include delivering difficult feedback constructively.
Yes, unlike IQ, which is relatively fixed, EI is considered a set of skills and competencies that can be developed through practice, feedback, and reflection.
IQ (Intelligence Quotient) measures cognitive abilities like logic and reasoning. EQ (Emotional Quotient) measures the ability to perceive, use, understand, and manage emotions.
It originated in academic psychology (Salovey & Mayer, 1990) but was popularised by Daniel Goleman. It is a subject of ongoing research, though some aspects of its measurement and definition are debated.