Open discussion meeting on...

When we think of brilliance, many of us see Einstein, a thinking machine with skin and mismatched socks. High achievers, we imagine, are wired for greatness from birth. But then you have to wonder why, over time, natural talent seems to ignite in some people and dim in others. It seems, for example, that the ability to delay gratification is a master skill, a triumph of the reasoning brain over the impulsive one. It is a sign of emotional intelligence, and it doesn't show up on an IQ test. In short, emotional intelligence describes qualities like understanding one's own feelings, empathy for the feelings of others, and the "regulation of emotion in a way that enhances living". When it comes to predicting a person's success, brainpower as measured by IQ and standardized achievement tests (GRE, ...) may actually matter less than the qualities of mind once thought of as "character".

Discussion based on an article in a recent edition of "Time Magazine" (copies available from the department secretary's office EA-518)