EQ actually stands for Emotional Intelligence Quotient. Much like an intelligence quotient, or IQ, an EQ is said to be a measure of a person’s emotional intelligence. However, there is much debate surrounding the legitimacy of a definition of emotional intelligence quotient, primarily because there is no standard against which it can be measured.

Research on EQ began with Yale psychologist Peter Salovey and John Mayer of the University of New Hampshire in the late 1980s. EQ is a concept that was further popularized by Daniel Goleman, another well-respected psychologist, who has written many books on the subject and is co-chair of The Consortium for Research on Emotional Intelligence in Organizations. While these and many other psychology experts view EQ as a scientific study of social behavior and relationships, the actual science behind measuring EQ is often convoluted at best.

Regardless of the actual scientific basis of measuring EQ, the concept is used in many different settings. One particularly popular setting that employs attempts at measuring EQ is the corporate world. Many businesses utilize EQ tests to help their employees determine and measure their emotional responses to various situations. While most corporate EQ tests are administered on the basis that a person’s EQ can be modified or increased, there is dispute about whether emotional intelligence is standard or can be changed.

Currently there are studies being conducted on possible ways that an EQ may affect a person’s abilities to perform under pressure, resolve conflict, and generally cope with challenges. Of course those who are not proponents of the concept believe these abilities are simply a matter of personality, which cannot be measured or modified. Other studies have linked EQ measurements to communication and other social skills that people either lack or possess.

A person’s EQ can be measured using any one of a number of assessments, including one developed by the aforementioned Salovey and Mayer. Some assessments utilize self-given responses while others are peer-given responses. An EQ test may give insight into a person’s personality and psychological make up, but discovering the true meaning of EQ and its relationship to and impact on a person’s life and social performance may be years and many studies away from anything definitive.