Emotional intelligence, as defined by psychologist Daniel Goleman, is a master aptitude that profoundly affects all other abilities, either facilitating or interfering with them.
Emotional intelligence is essential for expressing and controlling emotions, as well as recognizing, deciphering, and reacting to the feelings of other people.
People who are emotionally intelligent are adept in recognizing their own feelings, skilled in regulating their emotions, considerate of the emotional energies of other individuals, and able to deal with the emotions of other people.
In the 1930s, American psychologist Edward Thorndike presented the notion of "social intelligence" as one's capacity to deal well with other individuals.
In the 1940s, David Wechsler, a leading American psychologist, stated that the emotional aspects of intelligence may be indispensable to one's success in life.
Bar-On stresses that "emotional intelligence is an array of noncognitive capabilities, competencies, and skills that influence one's ability to succeed in coping with environmental demands and pressures."
American psychologist John Mayer believes that criterion-report (that is, ability testing) is the only adequate method to employ in measuring emotional intelligence.
Emotional intelligence can be enhanced by attending soft skills training, reading good books, and receiving guidance from parents and school authorities.
By increasing young people's emotional quotient, they are able to cope better with changes, assist other people to become efficient, competent, and eventually successful in life.