Before elucidating the difference between IQ and EQ, let us first understand, what these terms actually mean. EQ or say Emotional Quotient refers to a person’s ability to understand his/her emotion along with the other person’s emotions, whereas IQ stands for Intelligence Quotient indicates a person’s intelligence level.
Many people hold that IQ is more important for a person to achieve success in life while researchers hold that people with high EQ are more successful in their careers. So, it is one of the hot topics for debates, that which is better than the other.
While IQ is a number that indicates a person reasoning or logical ability in comparison to the statistical norm. Conversely, EQ implies the level of person’s emptional intelligence. Check out the article below to find some interesting distinguishing points between these two.
Content: IQ Vs EQ
Comparison Chart
| Basis for Comparison | IQ | EQ |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Intelligence Quotient or IQ is a number obtained from standardized intelligence test, which represents an individual's ability of logical reasoning. | EQ refers to an individual's level of emotional intelligence, which is represented by scores obtained in a standardized test. |
| Measures | General Intelligence | Emotional Intelligence |
| Acquisition | It is an inborn ability. | It is learned and improved ability. |
| Ability | Learn, understand and implement knowledge, logical reasoning and abstract thinking. | Recognize, control and express one's own emotion's, perceive and assess other's emotion's. |
| Ensures | Success in school. | Success in life. |
| Recognizes | People with high intellect, common sense, mental challenges, etc. | Leaders, Captains, Managers and people with social challenges. |
Definition of IQ
Intelligence Quotient, shortly known as IQ is an intelligent test score, obtained by a standardised intelligence test in which an individual’s mental age is divided by his chronological age and then multiplied by 100. The test aims at assessing a person’s cognitive capacity of thinking and reasoning. The term was first introduced by William Stern.
IQ is a measure of the intelligence level of an individual, that is reflected in the score obtained by the person in the intelligence test as compared to the scores received by other people of the same age in the same test.
Definition of EQ
EQ is an abbreviation for the term Emotional Quotient, which is defined as a person’s capability of identifying his own and other’s person’s emotions. It is a measure of the emotional intelligence level of an individual, which demarcates between different feelings and use this intelligence to guide thinking and behaviour.
The term was first evolved in 1995, by Daniel Goleman a psychologist in his book on Emotional Intelligence. It is the ability of a person to identify, express and control his/her thoughts and actions, understand other people and rightly interpret their situations, make right and quick decisions, cope with pressures and crisis and so on. It has been researched that people with high EQ have better mental health, job performance, the way of living life.
Key Differences Between IQ and EQ
The major differences between IQ and EQ are explained in detail in the following points:
- An individual’s level of emotional intelligence, which is represented by scores obtained in the standardized test, is called Emotional Quotient or EQ. Intelligence Quotient or IQ is a number obtained from standardised intelligence test, which represents an individual’s ability of logical reasoning.
- A person’s success in school depends on his IQ level, whereas a person’s EQ level reflects his success in real life.
- EQ measures an individual’s social and emotional competencies or one’s ability to recognise one’s own and other person’s emotional expression. Conversely, IQ measures a person’s academic competency and reasoning ability.
- Emotional Quotient is acquired and improved. As opposed to intelligence quotient is an ability you are born with.
- A person with good EQ can recognise, control and express one’s own emotion’s, perceive and assess other’s emotions. On the contrary, a person with a high IQ can learn, understand and implement knowledge, and possesses logical reasoning and abstract thinking.
- High emotional intelligence can be seen in leaders, captains, managers and people with social challenges. Unlike, Intelligence quotient identifies people with high intellect, common sense, mental challenges, etc.
Conclusion
The IQ and EQ level are different in different persons. It is possible that a person has a high IQ level, but low EQ count and vice versa. Therefore, the methods of checking IQ and EQ also differs.
Your IQ is what determines your competencies and individual capacities, but your EQ determines how you interact and treat people in your life, it shows how you are going to cope with pressures or face the crisis. The difference between these two is that no one can alter his/her intelligence or reasoning abilities, but anyone can learn to handle emotions, to bring success for him.
Philip says
Interesting article Surbhi. It’s great find it.
Saurav says
Thanks for lucid explanation.
Ganesh Mohapatra says
Good elaboration
shaista says
valuable and informative
Maureen Orji says
Wow!This is explicit.
Thank you.
ashutosh sharma says
very nice article, keep it up. I think and agree on the same that EQ is important to have success in life while IQ will ensure success in school.
Shajahan Bhuiya says
Great for conceptual clarity. Can it be explained further by a concept of intelligence grid- what should be the mix necessary for success in life of an executive?
Shajahan Bhuiya
Md Ashraf Khan says
Thanks for nicely explaining it
Chanpriya says
It is an important article for my education
thank you.
Thembinkosi says
It an eye opening article, very interesting.
PERCY MOSAESI says
It is true when they say it is never too late to learn!
Cyril De Silva says
Good article for understanding even for new comers to the training field.
Cyril De Silva
Sri Lanka
ATUL HADAP says
Well explained.
Javed Ahmed says
very impressive well explained.