Emotional intelligence begins with the recognition and understanding of a diverse range of emotions.

Emotional Intelligence (EI) refers to the ability to recognize, understand, and manage one's own emotions, as well as the emotions of others. It is often broken down into several components, including emotional perception (the ability to recognize and understand emotions in oneself and others), emotional expression (the ability to communicate and express emotions), emotional management (the ability to regulate and manage one's own emotions), and emotional understanding (the ability to understand the relationships between emotions and thoughts).

The concept of emotional intelligence was first introduced by Peter Salovey and John Mayer in a 1990 article in the journal "Emotion," but the term "emotional intelligence" was popularized by Daniel Goleman in his 1995 book "Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ."

Research has shown that emotional intelligence is related to a wide range of positive outcomes, including better relationships, greater psychological well-being, and improved performance at work. For example, people with high emotional intelligence tend to be better at resolving conflicts and building strong relationships with others. They are also less likely to experience stress and burnout, and have been found to be more effective leaders.

It's important to note that Emotional intelligence is not a fixed trait it's something that can be developed over time.

There are several different models of emotional intelligence, each of which defines the concept slightly differently and identifies different elements or areas of emotional intelligence. Here are a few of the most commonly cited models: