Emotional Intelligence (EQ)

Behavioral Studies

The ability to recognise, understand, manage and use one's own emotions and to perceive and influence the emotions of others.

Popularised by Daniel Goleman, emotional intelligence spans self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy and social skills. In education it is linked to better relationships, resilience and academic and career outcomes, and is a focus of social-emotional learning programs.

Related Terms
Social-Emotional Learning (SEL)
The process through which learners develop self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills and responsible decision-making.
Self-Regulation
The process by which learners set goals, monitor their progress, manage their emotions and adjust their strategies to achieve learning outcomes.
Motivation
The internal and external forces that initiate, direct and sustain goal-directed behaviour, including learning.
Growth Mindset
The belief, described by Carol Dweck, that abilities and intelligence can be developed through effort, strategy and persistence, as opposed to a fixed mindset that sees them as static.
Self-Efficacy
An individual's belief in their own capacity to succeed at a specific task or in a particular situation, a concept central to the work of Albert Bandura.