Three Decades of Emotional Intelligence Research: Perennial Issues, Emerging Trends, and Lessons Learned in Education: Introduction to Emotional Intelligence in Education

Abstract

Education is one of the largest applied areas for the construct of emotional intelligence (EI). The emphasis on social-emotional learning (SEL) is rapidly growing at all levels of the education delivery system, from preschool and secondary school curricula to post-secondary, professional, and continuing education programs. The book Emotional Intelligence in Education brings together leading world experts in the fields of EI and SEL to highlight current knowledge, new opportunities, and outstanding challenges associated with scientifically based applications of EI in education. In this introductory chapter to the book, we take stock of almost three decades of EI research, addressing three common concerns: (1) that EI is nothing more than old wine in new bottles, (2) that EI is poorly defined and measured, and (3) that claims about the importance of EI for various life success outcomes are dramatically overblown. We also highlight a number of new and emerging trends that point to the increasing maturity of the EI field as an area of study. Having taken the pulse of the chapters comprising the book, we propose that the field of EI would benefit from paying greater attention to the social context within which EI operates.