Consulting Psychology Journal, Vol 77(3), Sep 2025, 209-218; doi:10.1037/cpb0000305
This article introduces the special issue of Consulting Psychology Journal focused on the science and application of emotional intelligence (EI) in the workplace. Although the term EI has been applied in the context of organizations for over 35 years to define emotion-related abilities associated with important workplace outcomes, significant controversy remains related to its definition, measurement, and construct validity. In this introductory article, we briefly explore the history of the EI paradigm and its potential utility to consulting psychologists in areas such as assessment, as well as its use in training and leadership development. We also briefly review evidence for the validity of EI as an applied theory and highlight research demonstrating the potential to enhance EI through training and development. Although the evidence for the applied utility of EI is significant, more research is still needed to inform practice. To this end, we provide a research agenda that will address issues of special significance to applied practice. We conclude with a summary of each of the five focal articles that make up the special issue. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved)