Section: Teaching & Learning

Emotional Intelligence

Emotional Intelligence: What Is It?

The roots of Emotional Intelligence (EI) can be traced to Robert Thorndike who wrote about “Social Intelligence” in the thirties [1937] and David Wechsler who stated that non-cognitive aspects of intelligence were important for adaptation. Howard Gardner, in 1983, used the term “multiple intelligence” and highlighted the importance of “intrapersonal” and “interpersonal” intelligences.

Peter Salovey and John Meyer created the term “Emotional Intelligence” in the 1990s. They described emotional intelligence as "a set of four inter-related abilities, that involves the ability to perceive, use, understand, and manage emotions". But it was Daniel Goleman, who popularized this term with his book, Emotional Intelligence (New York: Bantam, 1995). He stated, "When it comes to the question of whether a person will become a star performer, IQ may be a less powerful predictor than EI".

There is a considerable body of research suggesting that a person’s ability to identify, understand, use, and manage emotion provides the basis for the kinds of social and emotional competencies that are important for success in almost any job. It is said that the more complex the job, the more EI matters.

Event Description

Emotional Intelligence - A panel discussion, featuring Win May (Associate Professor and Director of the Standardized Patient Program in the Division of Medical Education in the Keck School of Medicine); J. Lawford Anderson (Professor of Earth Sciences, USC College, and Director of the Center for Excellence in Teaching); and Frank Manis, Professor of Psychology, USC College)

Objectives of the Session:

  1. To define emotional intelligence
  2. To be aware of the different models of emotional intelligence.
  3. To describe the relationship between EI and job performance
  4. To use emotions to achieve your objectives.

May, Win. Emotional Intelligence: What Is It? - A Short Bibliography (January 2009) (PDF).

Event Last Offered:

September 25, 2009, 12pm - 1pm, DML 233

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