Goleman refers to the disconcerting case of a high school student, Jason H., who, despite his academic brilliance, stabbed his physics teacher, David Pologruto, over a B grade. Goleman uses this incident to underscore a critical point: Academic intelligence does not necessarily correlate with emotional intelligence. He argues that traditional measures like grades, IQ, and SAT scores have limited predictive power for life success. Goleman contends that emotional intelligence, encompassing skills like self-motivation, impulse control, and empathy, plays a crucial role in determining one’s destiny.

Drawing on various studies, including Richard Herrnstein and Charles Murray’s The Bell Curve, Goleman challenges the overemphasis on IQ and asserts that it contributes only about 20% to factors determining success, leaving 80% to non-IQ factors. The author contends that emotional intelligence can be as influential, if not more so, than IQ and challenges the conventional view that IQ is a fixed trait. Goleman builds upon the work of theorists like Howard Gardner and psychologist Peter Salovey to present The Components of Emotional Intelligence, as discussed below:

1. Knowing one’s emotions (self-awareness): Recognizing and understanding one’s feelings as they occur is fundamental to emotional intelligence. Goleman highlights that those who are more certain about their emotions tend to take life’s decisions more efficiently.