Table of Contents

• Why Important
• Time Magazine Article
• Significance of the Findings
• Relevance to Parenting and Education

I. Why Important

Recent research have shown that what is called Emotional Quotient (EQ) may be more important than IQ or Intelligence Quotient. EQ may be more properly called Character Quotient since it is really a measurement of qualities that we often refer to as character. People who have a high EQ seem to fare better in life, are better adjusted, and are more successful in their careers.

II. Time Magazine Article

A recent major article in Time Magazine focuses on the renewed interest of psychologists on the importance of EQ. It defines it as: “Qualities like understanding one’s own feelings, empathy for the feelings of others, and ‘the regulation of emotion in a way that enhances living.’ ” Note that this definition has three components:
Understanding one’s feelings;
Understanding others’ feelings;
Effectively handling one’s own feelings.
“When it comes to predicting a person’s success, brainpower as measured by IQ and standardized achievement tests may actually matter less than the qualities of mind once thought of as ‘character.’ ” (Dr. Daniel Goleman in Emotional Intelligence) Here are some examples in the article on the importance of emotional maturity:
Postponement of pleasure or gratification. Children who are able to exercise self-control and postpone gratification in favor of a later advantage are found to be more well-adjusted when they grow up, perform better in school, and do better in life.
Self-awareness. This is regarded as the most crucial ability because self-awareness allows a person to exercise self-control, or the exercise of the will. “Anyone can be angry — that is easy. But to be angry with the right person, at the right time, for the right purpose, and in the right way — that is not easy. (Aristotle)
Managing anxiety. Anxiety is natural, for it prepares us for action. But inability to handle anxiety causes worse problems. “The danger comes when worrying blocks thinking, becoming an end in itself or a path to resignation instead of perseverance

. Overworrying about failing increase the likelihood of failure.”
Optimism. Optimism is a positive and constructive attitude that tends to minimize the adverse aspects of a situation. Psychologist Martin Seligman studied 15,000 new employees of Metropolitan Life Insurance who had taken two tests: one is the regular screening exam of the company and the other is Seligman’s test on optimism. He found that those who scored high in optimism are those who perform the best, even if they flunked the standard exam.
People Skills. People who score high in nonverbal sensitivity tests (measured for example by PONS or Profile of Nonverbal Sensitivity) tend to be more successful in their work and relationships. Children who score well are more popular and successful in school, even when their IQs are quite average. Empathy is one of the important examples of such nonverbal sensitivity. “In the corporate world, according to personnel executives, IQ gets you hired, but EQ gets you promoted.” (Time magazine)
III. Significance of the Findings

A high EQ means that a person has better emotional self-control, which is an important ingredient in:
Personal Self-Mastery: better able to overcome negative states such as depression, discouragement, moodiness, jealousy, resentment, etc., which are often causes of personal unhappiness. A high EQ person tends to be happier as an individual.
Better Interpersonal Relationships: more effective in dealing with people, thus have less difficulties in relationships, and becomes more successful in career or work as well as home life.
Better Prepared for Spiritual Life: the quest for the innermost levels of our own being is hardly possible when the emotions are unregulated or uncontrolled. Spirituality means that one’s higher nature is dominant over one’s lower nature, such as habits and feelings. This is the reason why all spiritual disciplines require emotional maturity as a prerequisite.
IV. Relevance to Parenting and Education

Our new insights on the importance of emotional maturity for the true success of an individual stress the relevance of emotional education both in schools and the home. It means that:
Schools should give emphasis to emotional education and not only to mental education. Teacher training must include these aspects, particularly the practical importance of character development. Some schools have experimented with such programs and met with success.
New York City’s Public School 75 “adopted an emotional literacy program, designed to help children learn to manage anger, frustration, loneliness. Since then, fights at lunchtime have decreased from two or three a day to almost none.” (Time)
Parents must be sensitive to the emotional and character development of the child, for the home is the first place where such qualities are formed. They must be made aware of causes and effects in their example and in their treatment of children.
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