NCJ Number
228250
Journal
THE POLICE CHIEF Volume: 76 Issue: 8 Dated: August 2009 Pages: 94-96,98,100,102
Date Published
August 2009
Length
6 pages
Annotation
After defining "emotional intelligence" (EI), this article explains its importance in law enforcement officers, followed by a description of the features of the Emotional Quotient Inventory (EQ-I), an instrument that can measure a police officer's EI.
Abstract
Peter Salovey and John D. Mayer have defined EI as the "ability to monitor one's own and others' feelings and emotions, to discriminate among them, and to use this information to guide one's thinking and action." Being an effective and efficient law enforcement officer in today's environment requires intelligence about and control of emotions in order to meet the demands faced on the streets. Officers must be highly motivated; have well-developed communication skills; and be able to engage leadership, other officers, and community members by managing relationships and making emotional connections that balance the needs of the organization and the community. The relevant literature suggests that promoting the development of EI competencies through the use of assessment instruments can help improve self-awareness, because it enables respondents to recognize their own emotions and the emotions of others. The use of an EI instrument in assessing competencies may be useful in improving the performance of law enforcement officers. Psychologist Reuven Bar-On developed the EQ-I in order to measure an individual's "emotional quotient," which is a measure of an individual's emotional skills and abilities. The EQ-I is divided into 5 composite scales and 15 subscales. The five composite scales are intrapersonal, interpersonal, stress management, adaptability, and general mood. The intrapersonal subscales measure self-regard, emotional self-awareness, assertiveness, independence, and self-actualization. The interpersonal subscales measure empathy, social responsibility, and interpersonal relationships. The stress-management subscales address stress tolerance and impulse control, and the subscales of adaptability measure reality testing, flexibility, and problem solving. The general mood scale includes subscales of happiness and optimism. 23 notes