"Emotional Intelligence may be defined as the capacity to reason with emotion in four areas to perceive emotion, to integrate it in thought, to understand it and to manage it." Who gave this definition of emotional intelligence ?

Question

"Emotional Intelligence may be defined as the capacity to reason with emotion in four areas to perceive emotion, to integrate it in thought, to understand it and to manage it."  Who gave this definition of emotional intelligence ?

Accepted Answer

Mayer and Peter Salovey are credited with developing the initial framework and definition of emotional intelligence that aligns closely with the statement provided. Their research focused on emotional intelligence as a set of abilities related to perceiving, understanding, managing, and using emotions. The definition in the question, which highlights the capacity to reason with emotion in four areas (perceiving, integrating, understanding, and managing), directly reflects the core components of Mayer and Salovey's model.

Here's why the other options are incorrect:

1. **Daniel Goleman:** While Daniel Goleman popularized the concept of emotional intelligence through his book "Emotional Intelligence," his definition and framework, although influenced by Mayer and Salovey's work, are broader and encompass aspects like self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy, and social skills. Goleman's model is more focused on practical application in leadership and workplace settings, rather than the specific cognitive abilities outlined in the question's definition. He built upon the foundation laid by Mayer and Salovey.

2. **Peter and Michael:** There is no widely recognized or established theory of emotional intelligence attributed to individuals named "Peter and Michael" in the context of prominent EI researchers.

3. **Halverson:** There is no widely recognized or established theory of emotional intelligence attributed to an individual named "Halverson" in the context of prominent EI researchers.