Emotional Intelligence (EQ) Test

Emotional intelligence is the ability to understand, regulate, and use emotions so we can effectively relate to others and manage ourselves. The term "emotional intelligence" is a broad term that encompasses a wide range of skills and abilities that can help us build relationships, manage stress, and make sound decisions.

The concept of emotional intelligence was developed by psychologists who observed that our traditional ideas about what defines intelligence were somewhat limited. We typically think of intelligence as the ability to learn and understand concepts, and many people assume that those with more intelligence are bound to be more successful in life. However, researchers have found that the correlation between IQ and outcomes like career achievement, income, and overall happiness is much weaker that most people might imagine.

This finding sparked the curiosity of thinkers like psychologist Daniel Goleman, who set out to discover what truly drives success in life. When observing highly successful people, researchers realized that the most accomplished individuals often excelled in navigating social relationships, as well as managing their own emotional states. Highly successful people are able to understand and channel their emotions to achieve their goals. They are also able to interpret and relate to the emotions of others. These social and emotional skills were dubbed "emotional intelligence."

EQ is a term used to describe a person's level of emotional intelligence, or their skill in dealing with the emotions of themselves and others. The term EQ or "emotional quotient" was coined as a contrast with IQ, which is the measure of a person's intellectual ability. In contrast, EQ does not relate to academic ability, but rather a person's ability to understand and control their emotions, as well as relate to and connect with other people.

EQ has been found to be a better predictor of life success as compared to IQ. People with higher EQ tend to have stronger, more stable relationships and an improved ability to persist toward their goals.

As with IQ, a person's EQ can be measured by an EQ assessment, although there is no one accepted way of scoring a person's level of EQ. EQ assessments typically provide an overall measure of emotional intelligence, as well as breaking down a person's skills and abilities into more specific areas of EQ, such as controlling their own emotions or accurately reading the emotions of others.

Emotional intelligence describes a set of social and emotional skills that facilitate individual functioning and social relationships. These skills can be can be categorized into five broad areas:

Self-awareness describes the ability to effectively recognize and identify one's own emotional experiences. People who excel in this aspect are highly in tune with their emotions and possess a keen sense of what they’re feeling at any given moment.

Social awareness describes the ability to effectively perceive and understand the emotions of others. People with strong social awareness are highly attuned to nonverbal cues, such as body language and facial expressions, which can provide valuable information about others' emotional states.

Emotional control describes the ability to regulate and manage one's own emotions. People who are highly skilled in this area have a strong sense of control over their emotional experiences and can direct their emotions in ways that serve their goals.

Empathy is the ability to relate to the emotional experiences of others. Highly empathetic people care deeply about how people are feeling and show sensitivity towards others.

Emotional well-being describes an individual's overall state of psychological, emotional and social wellness. People who excel in this area have positive attitudes toward life and experience high levels of satisfaction in their day-to-day activities.

A person may have generally high or low emotional intelligence, or they may excel in some areas while finding other aspects more challenging. An emotional intelligence assessment can help to highlight areas of strength and potential improvement.

Emotional Intelligence is widely thought to be the best predictor of success across all areas of life, from your career progress to your relationship satisfaction. An EQ test measures key aspects of your social and emotional functioning to show you both areas of strength that you can build upon, and areas of weakness that can be developed to improve your emotional intelligence in the future.

Emotional intelligence can be thought of as a set of skills that can be developed with focus and intentional effort. While you may have more natural ability in some areas of EQ, you can also improve in areas where you are not as naturally gifted. A validated EQ test can give an objective measure of your strengths and challenge areas in emotional intelligence, and provide practical advice for addressing your weaknesses.