Emotional Intelligence/Emotional Quotient (EQ)
entry by Julie M. Marx, Global Family Expert at Expat Valley
Emotional Intelligence (also rendered as Emotional Quotient) is defined as the capacity to recognize, understand, manage, and effectively use one’s own emotions and to perceive and respond appropriately to the emotions of others. In cross-cultural contexts, EQ is a significant predictor of intercultural adjustment and relationship quality, as emotional self-regulation and empathy are foundational to navigating cultural difference. Distinguished from CQ (Cultural Intelligence) by its domain: EQ addresses interpersonal emotional dynamics generally, while CQ addresses the specific dimension of cultural difference.
Comparable terms
CQ (see separate entry — Cultural Intelligence; the cultural-specificity counterpart to EQ) · Social intelligence (psychology — related construct; emphasizes social rather than emotional awareness) · Emotional regulation (see Wellbeing & Mental Health cluster — the specific emotional management dimension of EQ) · EI (Emotional Intelligence — alternate abbreviation; used interchangeably with EQ in most professional contexts)
Why this matters
Emotional intelligence is a core ingredient in navigating cross‑cultural misunderstandings and conflict. It supports resilient parenting, partnership, and leadership under stress. For TCKs, it can buffer the impact of loss and transition across moves.
Cross-references
CQ (Cultural Adaptation); Emotional Regulation (Wellbeing & Mental Health); Intercultural Competence (Cultural Adaptation); Cultural Agility (Cultural Adaptation); Resilience (Wellbeing & Mental Health). Intercultural competence requires EQ as a foundational interpersonal capacity — the ability to read and respond to others’ emotional states is prerequisite to reading and responding to their cultural frames. Cultural agility similarly depends on EQ: the behavioral flexibility that agility requires is significantly enabled by emotional self-regulation and social attunement. Resilience is the wellbeing construct most closely associated with high EQ in adversity contexts, including the repeated adjustment demands of internationally mobile life.
Sources
Cultural intelligence (CQ) is conceptually distinct from emotional intelligence (EQ): while EQ addresses interpersonal emotional dynamics across any context, CQ specifically targets the individual’s capacity to function effectively in situations shaped by cultural difference, with the two constructs related but measuring distinct capabilities.
Goleman, D. (1995). Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ. Bantam Books. The foundational popular text that established EQ/EI as a mainstream professional concept.
Salovey, P. & Mayer, J.D. (1990). Emotional intelligence. Imagination, Cognition and Personality, 9(3), 185–211. The original academic paper formally defining emotional intelligence as a construct.
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