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A Critique of Emotional Intelligence

What Are the Problems and How Can They Be Fixed?

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Series: Series in Applied Psychology.

This book analyzes important criticisms of the current research on Emotional Intelligence (EI), a topic of growing interest in the behavioral and social sciences. It looks at emotional intelligence research and EI interventions from a scientific and measurement perspective and identifies ways of improving the often shaky foundations of our current conceptions of emotional intelligence. With a balanced viewpoint, A Critique of Emotional Intelligence includes contributions from leading critics of EI research and practice (e.g., Frank Landy, Mark Schmit, Chockalingam Viswesvaran), proponents of EI (e.g., Neal Ashkanasy, Catherine Daus), as well as a broad range of well-informed authors.

Proponents claim that EI is more important in life than academic intelligence, while opponents claim that there is no such thing as emotional intelligence. Three key criticisms that have been leveled at emotional intelligence include: (1) EI is poorly defined and poorly measured; (2) EI is a new name for familiar constructs that have been studied for decades; and (3) claims about EI are overblown. While the book presents these criticisms, the final section proposes ways of improving EI research and practice with EI theories, tests, and applications.

Table of Contents

Contents: J.N. Cleveland, E.A. Fleishman, Series Foreword. Preface. Part I: The Definition and Measurement of EI. G. Matthews, A.K. Emo, R.D. Roberts, M. Zeidner, What Is This Thing Called Emotional Intelligence? K.R. Murphy, L. Sideman, The Two EIs. J.M. Conte, M.A. Dean, Can Emotional Intelligence Be Measured? Part II: The Relationships Between EI and Other Constructs. F.J. Landy, The Long, Frustrating, and Fruitless Search for Social Intelligence: A Cautionary Tale. J. Allen, J. Cohen, Emotional Intelligence in Classrooms and in Schools: What We See in the Educational Setting. A. Furnham, Explaining the Popularity of Emotional Intelligence. N. Brody, Beyond g. Part III: The Limits of EI. P.J. Jordan, C.E. Ashton-James, N.M. Ashkanasy, Evaluating the Claims: Emotional Intelligence in the Workplace. M.J. Schmit, EI in the Business World. D.L. Van Rooy, S. Dilchert, C. Viswesvaran, D.S. Ones, Multiplying Intelligences: Are General, Emotional, and Practical Intelligences Equal? R. Hogan, L.W. Stokes, Business Susceptibility to Consulting Fads: The Case of Emotional Intelligence. Part IV: Improving EI Research and Applications. K.R. Murphy, L. Sideman, The Fadification of Emotional Intelligence. C.S. Daus, The Case for An Ability-Based Model of Emotional Intelligence. P.E. Spector, H-A.M. Johnson, Improving the Definition, Measurement, and Application of Emotional Intelligence. K.R. Murphy, Four Conclusions About Emotional Intelligence.

Reviews

"Murphy has put together a forceful collection of chapters that both challenge and support the EI construct. Any researcher interested in emotion will find this text a great addition to his or her library….The book is worthy of adoption for either an undergraduate or a graduate seminar in EI….The chapters of the text are organized quite nicely in four sections."

—PsycCRITIQUES