Emotional Intelligence and the Sustainable Development Goals: Supporting Peaceful, Just, and Inclusive Societies

Emotional intelligence (EI) refers to the ability to identify and manage one’s own emotions, as well as the emotions of others (Goleman 1995). The concept comprises four personal and interpersonal capacities or skills: (1) Self-awareness is the capacity to tune into one’s emotions and feelings and recognize how they influence us and others, i.e., our thoughts, bodily sensations, actions, and interactions at any given moment. This domain is the keystone of EI. (2) Self-management includes self-regulation and motivation. Self-regulation is the ability to keep disruptive emotions and associated automatic reactions in check before acting, allowing the construction of trusting environments, resilience, and effectiveness, even under stressful or hostile conditions. Motivation concerns the drive to pursue goals with persistence, not for external rewards but through intrinsic drive. (3) Social awareness is the ability to sense the emotions and perspectives of other individuals and..