Introduction Intelligence research has been dominated for decades by conceptualization and IQ (intelligence quotient). However, a popular argument against IQ is that it measures a narrow, more mathematical aspect of intelligence (Mackintosh & Mackintosh, 2011). This was noted by Gardner and Hatch (1989) who explored the concept of multiple intelligences and found that IQ was only a distinct construct for logical intelligence. It has also been argued that IQ tests fail to account for the variety of achievement in different contexts. Richardson (2002) reviewed the literature on IQ and suggested that IQ is not a measure of ability for complex cognition, but rather a measure of social class background. These ideas have contributed to awareness of other intelligences, including emotional intelligence (EI). Although its origins date back to early research on social intelligence, the term "emotional intelligence" was first coined by Salovey and Mayer (1990) who defined it as "a set of abilities that contribute to the accurate evaluation and expression of emotions, the use of emotions and regulation". of emotion'. Subsequently, Salovey and Mayer (1997) created a four-branch model of EI to further explain the concept and outline the four abilities that define EI. These four skills are; (i) perceive emotions, (ii) facilitate thinking, (iii) understand emotions, and (iv) manage emotions. These are organized hierarchically from basic to more advanced processes. For example, “emotion management” (the fourth branch) involves more sophisticated skills such as monitoring and reflecting on one's own emotions and those of others, including the ability to detach oneself from an emotion. More recently, several studies have operationalized emotional intelligence as a trait, hence the popular term “trait emotional intelligence.” Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Several measures of aspects of EI have been published. One of the most common measures is the Mayer-Salovey-Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test, also known as the MSCEIT, which requires individuals to solve eight tasks covering each of the four previously mentioned branches. Although there are claims about its validity by Mayer et al. (2003), there has been criticism of the MSCEIT suggesting that it is limited in what it measures. In recent years the importance of EI has been questioned. For example, if EI were a more important measure of general intelligence than IQ, there would be major implications for academic institutions and workplaces. Therefore, this essay will critically evaluate whether emotional intelligence is more important than IQ and the popular claim that it is the key to personal and professional success. Is EI a better measure of intelligence than IQ? For a long time, studies suggested that EI added nothing new to intelligence research. However, in the early 2000s, evidence began to support EI as distinct from IQ. Rosete and Ciarrochi (2005) found that EI predicted leadership effectiveness and explained variance not accounted for by IQ or personality. Furthermore, a study by Van Rooy, Viswesvaran, and Pluta (2005) showed that ability-based measures of EI were not correlated with cognitive ability or personality. Therefore, it is evident that EI is not only distinct from IQ, but also from existing personality constructs. . Additionally, MSCEIT scores have been shown to correlate with verbal SAT scores. In general, higher MSCEIT scores show less cognitive effortneeded to solve emotional or social problems, as shown in an EEG study by Jausovec, Jausovec, and Gerlic in 2001. There is little evidence to suggest that EI is a better measure of intelligence than IQ, rather than EI is perhaps a better measure for solving socio-cognitive problems related to emotions. Ciarrochi, Chan, and Caputi (2000) critically evaluated EI and found that EI was not related to IQ but was related to specific personality measures, such as empathy. EI and IQ were both linked to people's ability to manage their mood. This suggests that IQ may still play a role in understanding emotional processes. Bastian, Burns, and Nettelbeck (2005) found that shared variance between EI and life skills decreased after accounting for personality and cognitive influences. Therefore, it is difficult to distinguish whether a construct, for example EI, is simply a better measure of general intelligence due to its overlap with IQ and personality factors. This is reinforced by a recent meta-analysis by van der Linden et al. (2017) who suggested that general personality factor is synonymous with trait EI. Apparently, more coherent constructs to distinguish EI from personality factors and IQ have yet to be established. Does emotional intelligence help improve performance in education? Research has found much evidence of EI's contribution to academic success. In 1991, Hawkins, Von Cleave, and Catalano found that including EI classes in schools led to higher SAT scores. Petrides, Frederickson, and Furnham (2004) examined the role of trait EI in the academic performance and deviant behavior of school pupils in the United Kingdom. They found that the relationship between cognitive ability and academic performance was moderated by EI. Furthermore, it was found that pupils with higher EI scores were less likely to be excluded. A similar study also demonstrated that EI mediates the association between verbal IQ and GPA. On the other hand, some evidence has disputed this claim. A study by Rode et al. (2007) concluded that individuals with EI must also be motivated to practice it. Bastian, Burn, and Nettelback (2005) found small and statistically insignificant correlations between EI and academic performance. In addition to this, some studies find correlations between EI and academic performance that become insignificant after controlling for verbal IQ. This suggests that EI per se may not be a predictor of academic success. It is likely that EI plays a role in some aspects of academic performance, but more research is needed to accurately understand the relationship. Other research shows that only some measures of EI predict academic success. In this study, none of the EI measures showed graded predictive validity for academic achievement compared to cognitive (IQ) or personality variables. Does emotional intelligence bring more success in the workplace? EI's contribution to improving workplace performance has important implications for businesses and organizations, particularly when choosing who to hire. As mentioned previously, Rosete and Ciarrochi (2005) found a significant relationship between EI and leadership effectiveness. However, Waterhouse (2006) reviewed theories of EI and stated that there is a lack of consistent empirical evidence that EI contributes to real-world success. This is understandable considering that much research on this abstract concept is based on correlational data, which cannot demonstrate a causal relationship. Waterhouse has been criticized for examining a small selection of studies. ThereResearch continues to support that cognitive intelligence is the best predictor of job performance. Landy (2005) argued against using EI to predict job performance unless it directly contributes to success in the workplace. However, Cote and Miners (2006) suggested that EI is an important predictor of task performance due to its interactive effect with IQ. They also stated that individuals who were emotionally intelligent, but had lower cognitive intelligence, could have good job performance due to their ability to manage conflict. This suggests that the social nature of some work environments benefits emotionally intelligent people. However, more recent research has provided stronger evidence for the importance of EI in the workplace. A 2010 study, conducted by Shahzad, Sarmad, Abbas, and Khan, examined four aspects of EI on employee performance in the telecom sector in Pakistan. The results show a positive relationship between social awareness and relationship management on employee performance. While still correlational, this study suggests that particular aspects of EI are what contribute to workplace success in a highly collectivist culture. In 2017, Miao, Humphrey, and Qian found that EI is negatively related to counterproductive work behavior, also finding that this effect is strongest in the healthcare and service industries. Overall, the evidence supports the hypothesis that EI predicts success in the workplace. Does emotional intelligence predict personal success? Although most research on EI focuses on professionally successful relationships, there is still evidence that EI is positively linked to a more successful personal life. Schutte et al. In 2001 they conducted 7 studies in the United States to examine the relationship between EI and interpersonal relationships. Each study showed a positive correlation for EI and each interpersonal variable, for example, individuals with higher EI scores showed more cooperative responses towards partners. However, this report did not control for extraneous variables that may have contributed to the associations, such as IQ. That said, other studies that controlled for personality traits like general intelligence also found that those who had higher EI scores were more interpersonally sensitive or socially skilled. There is also a lot of research suggesting that EI leads to success in romantic relationships. A meta-analysis of 6 studies found a significant relationship between emotional intelligence and romantic relationship satisfaction. Again, this relationship could be the result of several variables that were not taken into account. For example, Neyer and Voigt (2004) found that perceived relationship quality was best predicted by an individual's personality traits. In one study in which EI was assessed as a skill, the results showed only partial support for EI being a core characteristic of successful relationships. Therefore, it is problematic to assume that EI can predict successful romantic relationships. Some research has recognized the value of EI as a potential predictor of health. Another meta-analysis by Martins, Rmalho, and Morin (2010) found that trait EI was strongly associated with health, and the strongest association was with mental health. Overall, research has found that MSCEIT scores are negatively correlated with mental health issues such as anxiety. This implies that higher EI is associated with mental well-being. This is also supported by Hertel, Schutz & Lammers (2009).