Emotional Intelligence and Prosocial Behavior in Adolescents

Emotional intelligence refers to an individual’s ability to monitor their emotions and the emotions of others. Because of the identified positive outcomes on interpersonal functioning, emotional intelligence should be assessed in conjunction with prosocial behavior. This construct is particularly salient when discussing adolescent interpersonal development. This review will outline foundational concepts related to emotional intelligence and prosocial behavior, and will demonstrate that higher levels of emotional intelligence are critical components increasing prosocial behaviors in adolescents