What is the definition of emotional intelligence?

Emotional intelligence refers to the ability to recognize, understand, and manage one's own emotions, as well as the ability to recognize, understand, and influence the emotions of others. This concept encompasses skills such as emotional awareness, empathy, self-regulation, and social skills.

The focus on both perception and management highlights a crucial aspect of emotional intelligence: it's not just about being aware of feelings but also effectively navigating and responding to them in oneself and in interpersonal situations. High emotional intelligence contributes significantly to personal and professional success by enhancing communication, relationship-building, and conflict resolution.

The other options do not capture the essence of emotional intelligence. Memorizing and recalling information, intellectual flexibility in problem-solving, and verbal skills pertain more to cognitive capabilities and knowledge-based competencies rather than the emotional and social understanding that defines emotional intelligence.