Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Educational Policy on Emotional Intelligence: Does It Make Sense?

  • Published:
Educational Psychology Review Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Educational policy on emotional intelligence appears to be based more on mass-media science journalism than on actual educational and psychological research. The first section of this article provides an overview of the research areas of emotional intelligence, social and emotional learning, and character education; it further examines how these areas became linked in the popular press. The second section examines the scientific evidence for whether emotional intelligence underpins social and emotional learning, how emotional intelligence relates to success, and whether it is central to character. We conclude that educational policy in this area has outpaced the science on which it is ostensibly based, and recommendations for the future are made.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

REFERENCES

  • Artman, J. M., and Jacobs, J. A. (1928). The significance of present trends is the character education movement. Relig. Edu. 23: 240-253.

    Google Scholar 

  • Averill, J. R., and Nunley, E. P. (1992). Voyages of the Heart: Living an Emotionally Creative Life. New York: Free Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barrick, M. R., and Mount, M. K. (1991). The Big Five personality dimensions and job performance: A meta-analysis. Pers. Psychol. 44: 1-26.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bar-On, R. (1997). Bar-On Emotional Quotient Inventory: A measure of emotional intelligence. Toronto: Multi-Health Systems, Inc.

    Google Scholar 

  • Benedict, M. (1990) Rating your story's EQ: Ethics quotient. Quill Scroll 64: 4-5.

    Google Scholar 

  • Benninga, J. S., and Wynne, E. A. (1998). Keeping in character: A time-tested solution. Phi Delta Kappan 79(6): 439-445.

    Google Scholar 

  • Boy Scouts of America (1999). [Online]. Scout Law. Available: www.bsa.scouting.org/fact sheets/02-503a.html

  • Buss, A. H., and Finn, S. E. (1987). Classification of personality traits. J. Pers. Soc. Psychol. 52: 432-444.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carroll, J. B. (1993). Human Cognitive Abilities: A Survey of Factor-Analytic Studies. New York: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Catalano, R. F., Arthur, M. W., Hawkins, D. J., Berglund, L., and Olson, J. J. (1998). Comprehensive community-and school-based interventions to prevent antisocial behavior. In Loeber, R., and Farrington, D. P. (eds.). Serious and Violent Juvenile Offenders: Risk Factors and Successful Interventions. Sage, Thousand Oaks, CA, pp. 24-283.

    Google Scholar 

  • Character Education Partnership (1998) (see ''The Character Education Partnership.'')

  • Craik, K. H. (1998). Personality systems concepts and their implications. Psychol. Inq. 9: 145-148.

    Google Scholar 

  • Davies, M., Stankov, L., and Roberts, R. D. (1998). Emotional Intelligence: In search of an elusive construct. J. Pers. Soc. Psychol. 75: 989-1015.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dockrell, W. B. (1959). The relationship between socio-economic status, intelligence and attainment in some Scottish primary schools. Ind. Psychol. Bull. 4: 1-6.

    Google Scholar 

  • Drench, M. (1994). Your effectiveness quotient! Total Health 16: 36-37.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dreyfus, H. L., and Dreyfus, S. E. (1986). Why skills cannot be represented by rules. In Sharkey, N. (ed.) Advances in Cognitive Science. Horwood, Chichester, England.

    Google Scholar 

  • Duhon-Haynes, G., Duhon-Sells, R., Sells, H., and Duhon-Ross, A. (1996). Peace Education: Enhancing Caring Skills and Emotional Intelligence in Children (Report No. CG027266). Lousiana: Counseling and Personnel Services. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED 399 489).

  • Elias, M. J., (December 3, 1997). The missing piece. Edu. Week 17: 36ff.

  • Elias, M. J., Zins, J. E., Weissberg, R. P., Frey, K. S., Greenberg, M. T., Haynes, N. M., Kessler, R., Schwab-Stone, M. E., and Shriver, T. P. (1997). Promoting Social and Emotional Learning: Guidelines for Educators. Alexandria, VA: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.

    Google Scholar 

  • Entrepreneur (1993). What's your EQ? Entrepreneur 21: 15.

    Google Scholar 

  • Epstein, S. (1998). Constructive Thinking: The Key to Emotional Intelligence. Praeger, Westport, CT.

    Google Scholar 

  • Feinberg, H. (1941). IQ correlated with EQ. J. Edu. Psychol. 32: 617-632.

    Google Scholar 

  • Franknel, D. A. (April 29, 1995). Fatal attraction between scientists and journalists? Lancet 345: 1105-1106.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gardner, H. (1993). Frames of Mind: The Theory of Multiple Intelligences. (10th Anniversary Edition). New York: Basic Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gibbs, N. (1995, October 2). The EQ factor. Time pp. 60-68.

  • Girl Scouts USA (1999). The Law. Available: www.gsusa.org/organization/program. html

  • Glanzer, P. L. (1998). The character to seek justice: Showing fairness to diverse visions of character education. Phi Delta Kappan 79(6): 434-438, 448.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goleman, D. (1995). Emotional Intelligence. Bantam, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goleman, D. (1998). Working with Emotional Intelligence. Bantam, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Greenberg, M. T., Kusche, C. A., Cook, E. T., and Quamma, J. P. (1995). Promoting emotional competence in school-aged children: The effects of the PATHS curriculum. Dev. Psychol. 7: 117-136.

    Google Scholar 

  • Greenspan, S. I. (1979). Intelligence and Adaptation. International Universities Press, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Horn, J., and Noll, J. (1994). A system for understanding cognitive capacities: A theory and the evidence on which it is based. In Detterman, D. K. (ed.). Current Topics in Human Intelligence, Vol. 4: Theories, Tests, and Issues. Guilford Press, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jamison, K. R. (1993). Touched with fire: Manic-depressive illness and the artistic temperament. New York: The Free Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jerome, F. (1981). Prime time science and newstand technology: Is it all just hoopla? Prof. Eng. 51: 12-14.

    Google Scholar 

  • Joachim, K. (1996). The politics of self esteem. Am. Edu. Res. J. 33: 3-22.

    Google Scholar 

  • Klein, R. (1997). Emotional appeal. Times Edu. Suppl. 4-5.

  • Leibman, B. (1995). What's your EQ (eating quotient)? Nutr. Act. Health Lett. 22: 9-10.

    Google Scholar 

  • Leo, J. (April 2, 1990). The trouble with self-esteem. U. S. News World Rep. 108: 16.

    Google Scholar 

  • Leuner, B. (1966). Emotional intelligence and emancipation. Prax. Kinderpsychol. Kinderpsychi. 15: 196-203. [German]

    Google Scholar 

  • Mayer, J. D. (1998a). A systems framework for the field of personality. Psychol. Inq. 9: 118-144.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mayer, J. D. (1998b). The systems framework: Reception improvement, and implementation. Psychol. Inq. 9: 169-179.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mayer, J. D., Caruso, D. R., and Salovey, P. (1999). Emotional intelligence meets standards for a traditional intelligence. Intelligence 27: 267-298.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mayer, J. D., Caruso, D. R., Salovey, P. Formica, S., and Woolery, A. (1999). Validity studies of the Multifactor Emotional Intelligence Scales [Unpublished raw data].

  • Mayer, J. D., DiPaolo, M. T., and Salovey, P. (1990). Perceiving affective content in ambiguous visual stimuli: A component of emotional intelligence. J. Person. Assess. 54: 772-781.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mayer, J. D., and Geher, G. (1996). Emotional intelligence and the identification of emotion. Intelligence 22: 89-113.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mayer, J. D., and Hanson, E. (1995). Mood-congruent judgment over time. Person. Soc. Psychol. Bull. 21: 237-244.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mayer, J. D., and Salovey, P. (1993). The intelligence of emotional intelligence. Intelligence 17(4): 433-442.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mayer, J. D., and Salovey, P. (1997). What is emotional intelligence? In Salovey, P., and Sluyter, D. (eds). Emotional Development and Emotional Intelligence: Implications for Educators. Basic Books, New York: pp. 3-31.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mayer, J. D., Salovey, P., and Caruso, D. R. (2000). Competing models of emotional intelligence. In Sternberg, R. J. (Ed.). Handbook of Human Intelligence (2nd ed.), pp. 396-420. New York: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • McAdams, D. P. (1996). Personality, modernity, and the storied self: A contemporary framework for studying persons. Psychol. Inq. 7: 295-321.

    Google Scholar 

  • Miller, J. P. (1976). Humanizing the Classroom. Praeger, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mischel, W. (1968). Personality and Assessment. Wiley, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nucci, L. P. (1989). Moral Development and Character Education: A Dialogue. McCutchan, Berkeley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pasi, R. J. (1997). Success in high school-and beyond. Edu. Leader. 54: 43-46.

    Google Scholar 

  • Payne, W. L. (1986). A Study of Emotion: Developing Emotional Intelligence; Self-Integration: Relating to Fear, Pain, and Desire. Doctoral Dissertation at the Union Graduate School. Cincinnati, OH. [Original dissertation work submitted and accepted, May, 1983].

  • Pool, C. R. (1997). Up with emotional health. Edu. Leader. 54: 12-14.

    Google Scholar 

  • Phillips, L. (1995). How do you feel, stupid? Nation 261: 585.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rapaport, D. (1950). Emotions and Memory. International Universities Press. New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Richards, R., Kinney, D. K., Lunde, I., Benet, M., and Merzel, A. P. C. (1988). Creativity in manic-depressives, cyclothymes, their normal relatives, and control subjects. J. Abn. Psych. 97: 281-288.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rhode Island Emotional Competency Partnership (1998). Update on Emotional Competency. Rhode Island State Government.

  • Salovey, P., and Mayer, J. D. (1990). Emotional intelligence. Imag. Cog. Personal. 9: 185-211.

    Google Scholar 

  • Salovey, P., and Sluyter, D. J. (1997). A note from the editors. In Salovey, P., and Sluyter, D. J. (eds.). Emotional Development and Emotional Intelligence. Basic Books, New York. pp. xi-xii.

    Google Scholar 

  • Scarr, S. (1989). Protecting general intelligence: Constructs and consequences for intervention. In Linn, R. L. (ed.). Intelligence: Measurement, Theory, and Public Policy. University of Illinois Press, Ubrana.

    Google Scholar 

  • Scherer, M. (1997). Perspectives: Heart start. Edu. Leader. 54: 5.

    Google Scholar 

  • Seligman, M. E. P., Reivich, K., Jaycox, L., and Gillham, J. (1995). The Optimistic Child. Houghton Mifflin, Boston.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shapiro, L. E. (1997) How to Raise a Child with a High E.Q: A Parents' Guide to Emotional Intelligence. HarperCollins, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Staw, B. M., and Barsade, S. G. (1993). Affect and managerial performance: A test of the sadder-but-wiser versus happier-and-smarter hypothesis. Admin. Sci. Quart. 38: 304-331.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sternberg, R. J., and Caruso, D. R. (1985). Practical modes of knowing. In Eisner, E. (ed.). Learning and Teaching the Ways of Knowing: 84th Yearbook of the National Society for the Study of Education (Part II). University of Chicago Press, Chicago, pp. 133-158.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stufft, W. D. (1996). Assessing your emotional IQ. Teach. Music 4: 42-43.

    Google Scholar 

  • The Character Education Partnership (No date). [Online]. Available: http://www.character.-org/[1998, January 15].

  • Tyron, G. S., and Tyron, W. W. (1986). Factors associated with clinical practicum trainees' engagements of clients in counseling. Prof. Psychol. Res. Prac. 17: 586-589.

    Google Scholar 

  • Weisinger, H. (1997). Emotional Intelligence at Work. Jossey-Bass, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wessman, A. E., and Ricks, D. F. (1966). Mood and Personality. Holt, Rinehart, and Winston, Inc., New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wood, S. J. (1996). Implementing a successful affective curriculum. Interven. School Clin. 32: 126-129.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wynne, E. A., and Walberg, H. J. (1986). The complementary goals of character development and academic excellence. Edu. Leader. 43: 15-18.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zins, J. E., Travis, L. F., and Freppon, P. A. (1997). Linking research and educational programming to promote social and emotional learning. In Salovey, P., and Sluyter, D. J. (eds.). Emotional Development and Emotional Intelligence. Basic Books, New York: pp. 257-274.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of New Hampshire, Durham, New Hampshire

    John D. Mayer & Casey D. Cobb

Authors
  1. John D. Mayer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Casey D. Cobb
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Mayer, J.D., Cobb, C.D. Educational Policy on Emotional Intelligence: Does It Make Sense?. Educational Psychology Review 12, 163–183 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1009093231445

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1009093231445

Search

Navigation