Find over 25,000 psychological definitions


Sorry, "bona-fide-occupational-qualification-bfoq" is not in the Dictionary of Psychology. Please report to APA if you believe this is an error.

Browse dictionary by letter

a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z

Psychology term of the day

November 23rd 2024

emotional intelligence

emotional intelligence

a type of intelligence that involves the ability to process emotional information and use it in reasoning and other cognitive activities, proposed by U.S. psychologists Peter Salovey (1958–  ) and John D. Mayer (1953–  ). According to Mayer and Salovey’s 1997 model, it comprises four abilities: to perceive and appraise emotions accurately; to access and evoke emotions when they facilitate cognition; to comprehend emotional language and make use of emotional information; and to regulate one’s own and others’ emotions to promote growth and well-being. Their ideas were popularized in a best-selling book by U.S. psychologist and science journalist Daniel J. Goleman (1946–  ), who also altered the definition to include many personality variables.