In 1995, Daniel Goleman’s book *Emotional Intelligence* was published. Since then, the topic has gained immense popularity. Sometimes it even seems as though it is the key to success in both personal and professional life. You’ll come across this term in many interpersonal skills training sessions. But what exactly is this concept?
Where did the concept of emotional intelligence come from?
Although the term first appeared in 1964 in a work by M. Beldoch, the importance of emotions for human functioning had been recognized earlier. As early as the 1930s, Edward Thorndike wrote about social intelligence. A dozen or so years later, David Wechsler noted that success does not depend solely on cognitive abilities. Abraham Maslow emphasized the importance of emotional strength.
In 1983, Howard Gardner proposed a theory of multiple intelligences, including social and personal intelligence. In 1990, Salovey and Mayer presented a coherent concept of emotional functioning, which they described in their book *Emotional Intelligence*.
How can this ability be understood?
The authors of this concept define it as “the ability to recognize, express, and understand emotions, and to manage them in a way that supports development” (2). The point, then, is not only to feel emotions but also to be able to use them to function better.
In common parlance, this term is often used broadly. In his interpretation of this concept, Daniel Goleman describes, among other things, perseverance, empathy, the ability to control one’s impulses, and a positive attitude. This practical perspective has resonated with a wide audience. However, it does not always align with a precise scientific definition.
You can read more about how different forms of cognitive and emotional abilities complement each other in the article “What Is Intelligence?”
Bibliography
[1] Salovey, P. & Mayer, J. D. (1990). Emotional intelligence. *Imagination, Cognition, and Personality*, 9, 185–211.
[2] Salovey, P., & Sluyter, D. J. (1999). Emotional Development and Emotional Intelligence. Poznań: Rebis. Cited in Emotional Intelligence. Edited by Orzechowski, Jarosław; Ścmieja, Magdalena. Warsaw: PWN, 2008.
[3] Goleman, D. (1995). Emotional Intelligence. New York: Bantam. Polish ed.: Goleman, D. (1997). Emotional Intelligence. Poznań: Media Rodzina of Poznań.
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