📑 Topics on this page (Jump to Topic):
📌 1. Emotional Intelligence (EI)
EI = recognising, understanding and managing your own and others’ emotions. The scientific model was given by Salovey and Mayer (1990); Daniel Goleman’s book “Emotional Intelligence” (1995) made it popular. Its measure is called EQ.
| Goleman’s 5 components | Meaning | In practice |
|---|---|---|
| Self-awareness | Knowing your emotions, strengths and weaknesses | Realising “I am getting angry” |
| Self-regulation | Managing impulses and emotions | Not replying at once in anger |
| Motivation | Pursuing goals without external rewards | Trying again after failure |
| Empathy | Understanding others’ feelings from their viewpoint | Listening carefully to an upset colleague |
| Social skills | Building relationships, teamwork, resolving conflicts | Mediating a team quarrel |
📌 2. Social Intelligence (SI)
- E. L. Thorndike (1920): “the ability to understand and manage people and to act wisely in human relations”.
- Two sides: social awareness (sensing others’ situation) and social facility/skill (speaking and behaving appropriately).
- Howard Gardner (multiple intelligences, 1983): interpersonal intelligence ≈ social intelligence; intrapersonal = understanding oneself.
📌 3. How to Solve Situational Questions
- The best answer is usually calm, empathetic, within the rules, solution-focused and constructive.
- Eliminate extreme options: aggressive (shouting, revenge), escapist (ignoring, quitting), blaming others.
- Priority: safety of life → duty/rules → relationships → your own convenience.
- First listen and understand, then speak privately with facts; go to the proper authority if needed.
⚠️ Exam Traps:
- “Doing nothing” or “complaining at once” is usually not the best answer.
📌 4. Practice MCQs
📝 Practice MCQs (prepared by SF Prep — not PYQs)
Q1. Who gave the first scientific model of emotional intelligence (EI)? Practice
Correct answer: (A)
Salovey and Mayer (1990) gave the model; Goleman (1995) popularised it.
Salovey and Mayer (1990) gave the model; Goleman (1995) popularised it.
Q2. Which of these is NOT a component of Goleman’s emotional intelligence model? Practice
Correct answer: (C)
The 5 components: self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy, social skills. IQ is a separate measure.
The 5 components: self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy, social skills. IQ is a separate measure.
Q3. Who first gave the concept of ‘social intelligence’? Practice
Correct answer: (A)
Thorndike (1920) described it as the ability to understand and manage people.
Thorndike (1920) described it as the ability to understand and manage people.
Q4. What is the best meaning of ‘empathy’? Practice
Correct answer: (D)
Empathy means putting yourself in the other person’s place; pity (sympathy) is different.
Empathy means putting yourself in the other person’s place; pity (sympathy) is different.
Q5. Which of these best shows self-regulation? Practice
Correct answer: (B)
Self-regulation = controlling impulses; pausing and replying in a balanced way.
Self-regulation = controlling impulses; pausing and replying in a balanced way.
Q6. In Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligences, which intelligence is closest to social intelligence? Practice
Correct answer: (D)
Interpersonal = understanding others; intrapersonal = understanding oneself.
Interpersonal = understanding others; intrapersonal = understanding oneself.
Q7. In a meeting a colleague takes credit for your work. What is the most appropriate response? Practice
Correct answer: (B)
A calm, private, fact-based approach protects both the relationship and fairness.
A calm, private, fact-based approach protects both the relationship and fairness.
Q8. A mistake by your junior has delayed a report. What will you do? Practice
Correct answer: (C)
Guidance plus team responsibility = a chance to learn; public humiliation lowers morale.
Guidance plus team responsibility = a chance to learn; public humiliation lowers morale.
Q9. A citizen angry about a delay is speaking loudly at your counter. What will you do? Practice
Correct answer: (A)
Staying calm, listening and offering a solution reduces anger.
Staying calm, listening and offering a solution reduces anger.
Q10. You failed an exam despite working hard. What is the best response? Practice
Correct answer: (B)
This shows motivation and self-awareness.
This shows motivation and self-awareness.
Q11. Your friend is upset and wants to talk, but you are busy with urgent work. What will you do? Practice
Correct answer: (D)
A balance of empathy and responsibility.
A balance of empathy and responsibility.
Q12. An injured person is lying on the road and people are only watching. What will you do? Practice
Correct answer: (A)
Saving a life comes first; Good Samaritans also have legal protection.
Saving a life comes first; Good Samaritans also have legal protection.
Q13. A senior officer asks you to do something against the rules. What will you do? Practice
Correct answer: (C)
Both the rules and courtesy — firm but polite.
Both the rules and courtesy — firm but polite.
Q14. Two members of your team keep quarrelling. What will you do? Practice
Correct answer: (B)
This shows social skills (conflict resolution).
This shows social skills (conflict resolution).
Q15. Your work has been strongly criticised. What is the best response? Practice
Correct answer: (C)
Learning from constructive criticism shows self-awareness and maturity.
Learning from constructive criticism shows self-awareness and maturity.
Q16. A new colleague from another state feels lonely. What will you do? Practice
Correct answer: (D)
Inclusion is social intelligence.
Inclusion is social intelligence.
Q17. Someone jumps the queue in front of you. What will you do? Practice
Correct answer: (A)
Polite but clear — neither aggressive nor passive.
Polite but clear — neither aggressive nor passive.
Q18. You feel stressed under a deadline. What is the best way to cope? Practice
Correct answer: (C)
Stress management = self-regulation + planning.
Stress management = self-regulation + planning.
Q19. Your mistake has caused a loss to the office. What will you do? Practice
Correct answer: (A)
Honesty and accountability build trust.
Honesty and accountability build trust.
Q20. An elderly person lives alone in your neighbourhood. What will you do? Practice
Correct answer: (D)
Empathy and social responsibility.
Empathy and social responsibility.