Conclusion

Table of Contents

Contents Summary Introduction: Democracy and the Emotional Life Thoughts, Behaviour and Emotions What Emotional Intelligence Is: A Brief History and Definition Why Emotional Intelligence Matters for Democracy The Limits of Current Emotional Intelligence Models A Broad Framework of Emotional Skills Intrinsic Goals Internal Perceptions External Perceptions Attitudes Internal Processing Internal Expression External Expression From Emotional Intelligence to Emotional Wisdom Emotional Skills and Democratic Culture Conclusion Appendix: Comprehensive Framework of Emotional Skills

The argument, then, is simple. Democracy needs emotionally intelligent citizens and leaders, but it needs more than emotional intelligence alone. Emotional capacities become democratically valuable when they are joined to truthfulness, responsibility, realism and concern for the common good. If we want better democratic life, we should care not only about institutions and policies, but also about the emotional development of the people who inhabit them and those who elect them.

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