What is EQ?
EQ stands for Emotional Quotient. It is a measure of a person’s ability to perceive, understand, regulate and reason with emotions. EQ helps people to effectively manage emotions, empathize with others, bounce back from setbacks and build strong relationships. Unlike IQ which is fixed, EQ can be developed and improved over time.
EQ involves skills like:
- Self-awareness – understanding your own emotions.
- Self-regulation – controlling impulses and regulating your emotions.
- Motivation – using emotions to focus energy on goals.
- Empathy – sensing the emotions of others.
- Social skills – managing relationships, inspiring others, resolving conflicts.
People with high EQ tend to have greater mental health, job performance, leadership skills and relationship satisfaction. Those with low EQ can struggle to understand their own emotions or others, leading to interpersonal problems.
Measuring EQ
There are several ways that researchers and practitioners measure EQ:
Self-Report EQ Tests
These involve answering a series of questions about how you perceive, understand, regulate and utilize emotions. They can give you a quick estimate of your overall EQ. Some examples are the Emotional Intelligence Appraisal, the EQ-i 2.0 or the TEIQue. Scores are benchmarked against wider population data.
360-Degree EQ Assessments
These gather feedback from your peers, colleagues, friends or family members on your emotional intelligence competencies. By incorporating other perspectives, they provide a more objective estimate of your EQ skills.
EQ Interviews
A trained assessor conducts an in-depth interview, asking you to describe and reflect on experiences related to the key components of EQ. Your responses are evaluated to gauge your skill level. This offers a more thorough assessment.
EQ Observation
Your EQ is assessed while actually performing tasks or interacting with others. This allows your EQ skills to be observed directly in action. It is highly contextualized but time-consuming.
EQ Testing in Context
EQ micro-assessments can estimate your emotional skills for a specific context like the workplace. For example, how you interpret emotions during a sales call or resolve a conflict with a colleague.
The Average EQ Score
Most EQ tests and scales calibrate overall scores to have:
- 100 as the population average.
- 15 or 16 as the standard deviation.
This means 68% of people score between 85 to 115, while 95% of people score between 70 to 130.
An EQ score of 100 is designed to represent the average for EQ skills. Around two-thirds of people score within 15 points of this norm.
However, what constitutes a “good” EQ score is relative. It depends on the specific test, version and population used to normalize the scoring system. The same score can sit at slightly different percentiles for different EQ measures.
It’s best to focus less on your exact score and more on how to practically apply EQ strengths or improve weaknesses.
Average EQ Scores by Demographic
While EQ scores center around the population average, certain demographic groups tend to score slightly higher or lower:
Women
Most studies show women outperforming men on EQ tests on average. One large study of over 90,000 respondents found women scored 5-6 points higher than men. However, effect sizes tend to be small.
Age
EQ seems to peak between 40-50 years old. One study found this age group averaged 6 points higher than 20-29 year olds. Both younger and older groups scored lower. However, high EQ is possible at any age.
Managers and Leaders
People in leadership or management roles tend to have above average EQ. For example, one study showed senior leaders scoring 30% higher than the general population. This may be a result of EQ boosting leadership potential.
IQ Interactions
Most research finds only a weak correlation between IQ and EQ scores. However, those with very high IQs tend to have lower EQs on average. The opposite is true for those with very low IQs.
Occupations
People in social or artistic occupations consistently show above average EQ scores. For example, counselors and performers score high on empathy and communication aspects of EQ.
Mirror Neurons
Recent research has linked EQ to the functioning of mirror neurons – specialized cells that activate when we observe emotions and actions in others. Individual differences in mirror neuron activity may underpin EQ variations.
What is Considered a High EQ Score?
A high EQ score is generally viewed as:
- 115 or above on tests normed with a mean of 100.
- At least 1 standard deviation above the population average.
- Around the 80th percentile or higher compared to other test takers.
For example, on the popular EQ-i 2.0 test:
- 115+ is considered high EQ.
- 130+ is very high and in the top 10% of scores.
However, practical emotional intelligence matters more than any specific test result. Some characteristics of people with genuinely high EQ include:
- Self-aware – understand their own emotions and impact on others.
- Composed – able to keep calm under pressure.
- Resilient – bounce back well from adversities.
- Motivated – focused energy towards meaningful goals.
- Empathic – detect and understand others’ emotions and needs.
- Socially adept – build rapport, resolve conflict, guide groups.
What is Considered a Low EQ Score?
A low EQ is generally seen as:
- 85 or lower on a test where the population average is 100.
- More than 1 standard deviation below the population EQ norm.
- Scoring in the bottom 20th percentile compared to other people.
For instance, on the EQ-i 2.0, EQ scores below 85 suggest low overall emotional intelligence. Those below 70 indicate very low EQ capacity.
People with lower EQs may have difficulties like:
- Poor awareness of their own emotions.
- Difficulty regulating anger, anxiety or impulses.
- Giving in to feelings of depression or hopelessness.
- Unable to read emotional cues in others.
- Making socially inappropriate decisions.
- Struggling to resolve interpersonal conflicts.
However, low EQ skills can be improved. This starts by identifying areas of weakness and practicing more emotionally intelligent responses.
What is an Average EQ Score by Age?
EQ development starts in early childhood and continues evolving throughout life. Here is an overview of typical EQ scores at different ages:
Children Aged 6-12 Years Old
EQ first emerges in primary school years. However, testing EQ in children is challenging due to limited abstract reasoning and self-awareness. Early EQ assessments focus more on observable emotional capacities.
Adolescents Aged 13-19 Years Old
EQ scores start stabilizing in adolescence to provide a baseline into adulthood. Teen EQ is often tested using parent-ratings in addition to self-reports. Average scores tend to be similar to adult norms, between 85-115.
Young Adults Aged 20-39 Years Old
EQ reaches mature levels by early adulthood. Average scores for 20-39 year olds are around 100. Young adults may still be developing advanced EQ skills like self-regulation, empathy and conflict management.
Midlife Adults Aged 40-59 Years Old
This tends to be a peak age range for emotional intelligence. Greater experience and neural integration supports EQ maturation. Average scores range from 100-110 for 40-50 year olds.
Mature Adults Over 60 Years Old
EQ starts declining in later life due to changes in cognitive function, health and social activity. However, neural plasticity allows EQ improvement into old age through targeted practice. Average scores are around 90-100 for those over 60.
What Factors Influence the Development of EQ?
EQ starts developing in childhood and is shaped by many influences:
Genetics
Twin studies show genetic factors account for 36-42% of variance in EQ. DNA variants that impact neurobiology, temperament and personality affect EQ potential. However, environment and experience play a larger role.
Early Caregiving
Sensitive and responsive parenting provides an optimal environment for EQ development during the first few years of life. Secure attachment styles enable better emotional regulation and rapport with others.
Family Factors
Growing up in a family with open emotional expression, cohesion, warmth and stability promotes EQ maturation. Trauma, criticism, neglect or abuse inhibit its emergence.
Education and Culture
EQ is enhanced through emotional skill building activities in schools or community groups. Cultural norms influence which emotional competencies are emphasized and valued.
Individual Experiences
Personal relationships, work experiences, interests and life events shape EQ trajectories across the lifespan. How we navigate emotional episodes grows our EQ capabilities.
Research suggests four main guidelines for improving EQ:
1. Expand emotional vocabulary
Develop a rich vocabulary to describe emotional states and reactions more precisely. Subtly labeling emotions builds self-awareness.
2. Reframe emotional interpretations
Look beyond initial reactions to see alternate perspectives. Avoid making snap emotional judgements.
3. Regulate unhelpful emotions
Apply strategies to manage difficult emotions like anger or anxiety before reacting. Soothing physiological arousal is key.
4. Rehearse empathic responding
Practice putting yourself in other’s shoes. Imagine their thoughts and feelings vividly. Seek their input and listen carefully.
Conclusion
EQ refers to our ability to perceive, understand, regulate and utilize emotions effectively. While EQ can be measured through tests, real-world emotional skills matter more than scores. The average EQ is around 100, but can vary by age, gender and other factors. Dedicated practice allows individuals to build their EQ capabilities over their lifetime.