Who is considered the father of Emotional Quotient (EQ)?

• A. Paul Stoltz
• B. Howard Gardner
• C. Jean Piaget
• D. Daniel Goleman

Answer: (D)

Emotional intelligence centers on recognizing, understanding, and managing emotions in yourself and others, and using that awareness to guide thinking and behavior. Daniel Goleman is widely regarded as the father of Emotional Quotient (EQ) in its popular form because his 1995 book on emotional intelligence brought the concept to mainstream attention, outlining how EI influences leadership, relationships, and success beyond what IQ alone predicts. He popularized a framework of emotional competencies—self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy, and social skills—that organizations and schools have since used to promote social-emotional learning and personal development. It’s worth noting that the idea originated earlier with researchers like Salovey and Mayer, but Goleman’s work is what made EQ a widely recognized term and practical focus. The other names listed are known for related ideas: Gardner for multiple intelligences, Piaget for cognitive development, and Stoltz for the adversity quotient, not EQ.