Emotional Intelligence (EI) is "the ability to monitor one's own and others' emotions, to discriminate among them and to use the information to guide one's thinking and actions" [Mayer & Salovey, 1993: 433]. It can also be defined as a measure of the way you deal with your own and other peoples' emotions. The abilities that EI involves fit into five categories:

1. Self-awareness: know your strengths and weaknesses, what you feel and why, know your needs and constructive ways to meet them.
2. Manage emotions: identify your feelings and discover how to handle them in responsible ways.
3. Motivation: know your goal and use your emotions as inspiration and motivation to get your goal.
4. Empathy: understand other people's emotions through facial expressions, tone of voice and other behavioural patterns.
5. Social skills: manage emotions in a social context. Not only your own, but other peoples' emotions as well.

So far, there is no standardized test for Emotional Intelligence, but what follows are links to hypothetical quizzes for you to learn what your EI might be. Remember that EI is something that is developed over time through relationships and experience. Don't be disheartened if your score is low, after all this is only hypothetical! But, it might give you ideas as to how you could develop your emotional muscle.

If you would like to learn more about Emotional IQ or take an EIQ test, please follow the links to other sites below:

• What's your Emotional Intelligence Quotient?
• Emotional Intelligence Test
• Emotional Intelligence (EQ)