UPSC Mains 2023 GS4 Q8 — Emotional Intelligence
‘‘What really matters for success, character, happiness and lifelong achievements is a definite set of emotional skills – your EQ – not just purely cognitive abilities that are measured by conventional IQ tests.’’ Do you agree with this view? Give reasons in support of your answer. (Answer in 150 words)
Question Decoded — examiner's intent
- Directive verbs
- Do you agree with this view?Give reasons
- Scope keywords
- success, character, happiness and lifelong achievementsdefinite set of emotional skillsEQpurely cognitive abilitiesconventional IQ tests
- Implicit sub-parts
- Why is EQ often more decisive than IQ for long-term 'character' and 'success'?
- What are the specific emotional skills (Goleman's components) that lead to 'happiness'?
- Does IQ still play a foundational role, or is it entirely irrelevant?
- How does EQ manifest in a public servant's lifelong achievements and decision-making?
- Common pitfalls
- Writing a generic essay on Emotional Intelligence without linking it back to the specific outcomes mentioned: 'happiness' and 'character'.
- Taking an extreme stand that IQ doesn't matter at all; failing to acknowledge IQ as a 'threshold' ability.
- Neglecting to define what 'emotional skills' actually are (e.g., empathy, self-regulation, social skills).
- Failing to provide real-life or administrative examples where EQ saved a situation that IQ alone could not solve.
- Dimensions required
- Psychological/IntrapersonalSociological/InterpersonalEthical/Character-basedProfessional/Administrative
- Marks allocation hint
Spend 20-30 words defining the EQ vs IQ relationship. Devote 80 words to the core argument of how EQ drives character and happiness with specific skills. Use the remaining 40-50 words to provide a balanced view on IQ's necessity and a concluding administrative perspective.
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