Emotional intelligence (EI) has recently emerged as a key construct in modern-day psychological research, appearing as one of the most widely discussed aspects of intelligence in the current literature. EI refers to the competence to identify and express emotions, understand emotions, assimilate emotions in thought, and regulate both positive and negative emotions in oneself and others. The construct has matured and subsequently gathered international media attention ever since its inception in the 1980s. Researchers claim to have made important strides toward understanding its nature, components, determinants, effects, developmental track, and modes of modification. EI research has prospered in part because of the increasing personal importance of both intelligence and healthy emotions for people in modern society. It has even been claimed that EI predicts important educational and occupational criteria above and beyond those predicted by general intellectual ability.