Publish at April 06 2014 Updated April 30 2026
Human beings have always had a mania for classifying: animals, plants, minerals and their fellow creatures. We've developed indicators to reveal which individuals possess potential and which lack it. For a long time, he swore by the intelligence quotient test.
However, almost 20 years ago, Daniel Goleman published a book on a new type of intelligence that was not linked to knowledge or logic. The term "emotional intelligence" was coined. The researcher's hypothesis was that empathetic humans, able to take into account their own emotions and those of others, were more "intelligent" than people with high IQs.
Ridiculed in its early days, emotional intelligence has now become an element considered primordial by "success specialists". Whether it's for a career or for success at school, an individual's emotional intelligence is said to be an essential pillar. Being more emotional than rational beings, it seems that humans who master their emotions have a definite advantage over others. In this context, it's not surprising to see the promotion of emotional education to raise the EQ (emotional quotient) of young people.
But recently, an article published in the weekly Atlantic called into question the supposed virtues of emotional intelligence. Indeed, the author of the article cites a number of studies denouncing what lies behind emotional intelligence training. Its proponents claim that the systematic development of EQ in individuals will eventually change society, in the direction of increased cooperation and empathy. However, it would appear that the effect is exactly the opposite.
People with a high EQ are unrivalled manipulators, able to elicit sympathy and support for their cause. It's true that civil rights leaders like Dr. Martin Luther King used it for just causes. But others, such as Adolf Hitler, also had an unrivalled gift for stirring the emotions of crowds by suspending their critical judgment... Stéphane Côté, a psychologist at the University of Toronto, reportedly observed in a study called " The Jekyll and Hyde of emotional intelligence " that the most Machiavellian people in the workplace are those with a very high emotional quotient, capable of manipulating others to achieve their ends.
And, contrary to what some claim, EQ is not the key to all professions. Researchers in Florida point out that in jobs requiring a high level of concentration, such as data analysis or repair work, this heightened intelligence may even be counter-productive, since excessive attention to people distracts the worker from the task in hand.
The same study shows, however, that this is a considerable asset for anyone who has to work with the public. Counsellors, sales representatives and customer service staff all benefit from having a high EQ.
Emotional intelligence is not some magical power that makes people work better together. On the contrary, it can be a spectacular lever for manipulation. Like IQ, EQ has its dark side. Developing a "taste for others" and empathy is certainly necessary, as is knowing when to stop and letting everyone have their own free will.
Illustration: Mopic, shutterstock
References
Cassely, Jean-Laurent. "The dark side of emotional intelligence." Slate.fr. Last updated January 5, 2014. http://www.slate.fr/life/81891/cote-obscur-intelligence-emotionnelle.
Claeys Bouuaert, Michel. "Emotional education: a concrete tool for schools." Emotional Education. Last updated: October 15, 2013. http://www.education-emotionnelle.com/articles/leducation-emotionnelle-un-outil-concret-pour-lecole/.
Grant, Adam. "The Dark Side of Emotional Intelligence." The Atlantic. Last updated January 2, 2014. http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2014/01/the-dark-side-of-emotional-intelligence/282720/.
Williams, Ray. "The biggest predictor of career success? Not skills or education - but emotional intelligence." Financial Post. Last updated January 1, 2014. http://business.financialpost.com/2014/01/01/the-biggest-predictor-of-career-success-not-skills-or-education-but-emotional-intelligence/.
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