Daniel Goleman PhD

“In a sense, we have two brains, two minds, and two different kinds of intelligence: rational and emotional.”

Influence on SDC Framework Focus

Interest in emotional intelligence (EI) existed long before Daniel Goleman’s work, but his writing helped bring the concept into mainstream awareness and everyday practice.

In the Self-Directed Change® Frameworks, emotional intelligence is explored in four key areas. The first two, self-awareness and self-management, are internal and grow through reflection on your values and experiences. While the second two, awareness of others and relationship management are external and involve how you connect with others. The second two are influenced by and contribute to a healthy sense of self. As Daniel Goleman put it, “Empathy and social skills are social intelligence, the interpersonal part of emotional intelligence. That’s why they look alike.”

SDC emphasizes that emotional intelligence provides a foundation for both self-efficacy and positive self-regard. When people develop these core capacities, they become more equipped to navigate challenges, respond to stress with flexibility, and engage in healthier relationships.

Emotional intelligence also plays a key role in self-assessment. In the SDC approach, this means using reflective practices to clarify your preferences, boundaries, abilities, and available resources—while also staying mindful of the dynamics, rules, and possibilities within your relationships.

As people develop stronger emotional intelligence, they gain a clearer sense of direction. They become more capable of creating meaningful outcomes in relationships and sustaining progress in ways that feel aligned and fulfilling.

For an even closer look, add Dr. Goleman’s “Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ” to your library today. Find it here in the ChangeWorks Bookstore.

Key Contributions and Concepts

Daniel Goleman’s primary contribution to psychology and organizational behavior is his popularization of emotional intelligence (EI), a concept initially introduced by Peter Salovey and John Mayer in 1990. Goleman expanded their work into a widely accessible framework in his 1995 book Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ.

Emotional Intelligence

Daniel Goleman's original model of emotional intelligence (EI) that he outlined in his 1995 book included five core domains—self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy, and social skills—that he believed formed the foundation of emotionally intelligent behavior.

Over time, Goleman refined this model into four domains—self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, and relationship management—which are now widely used in both academic and professional contexts.

Daniel Goleman’s model of emotional intelligence (EI) is organized into two overarching competencies: personal competence and social competence. These serve as the broadest categories in the framework. Personal competence refers to how well we manage ourselves—our emotions, behaviors, and motivations. It includes the domains of self-awareness and self-management. In contrast, social competence is about how well we manage relationships with others. It includes the domains of social awareness and relationship management.

Each of the four domains contains specific emotional intelligence competencies—12 in total. In the self-awareness domain, the core competency is emotional self-awareness—the ability to recognize one’s own emotions and understand their impact.

The self-management domain includes four competencies: emotional self-control, adaptability, achievement orientation, and positive outlook. These skills help individuals stay composed, flexible, goal-oriented, and optimistic, even in challenging situations.

The social awareness domain includes two competencies: empathy, the ability to sense and understand others’ emotions, and organizational awareness, which involves understanding group dynamics and social currents.

Relationship management, the fourth domain, contains five competencies: influence, coach and mentor, conflict management, teamwork, and inspirational leadership. These are the interpersonal skills needed to lead, collaborate, and resolve conflict effectively.

Together, these layers—two broad competencies, four domains, and twelve specific skills—form an integrated approach to understanding and developing emotional intelligence.

For example, a skilled leader might use self-awareness to recognize rising frustration, self-management to remain calm, social awareness to understand the team's concerns, and relationship management to motivate and guide the team toward a shared goal.

According to Goleman the 12 competencies are not fixed traits, but learned capabilities that can be strengthened over time with intentional practice and development. By employing these skills individuals, and leaders specifically, can become more emotionally intelligent and enhance their leadership skills, decision-making processes, and team performance.

Goleman's work on emotional intelligence has impacted psychology, education, leadership, and organizational management. His theories have influenced how professionals understand success and relationships, while emotional intelligence is widely thought to be a vital component of personal and professional success, often surpassing cognitive intelligence in predicting career success.

Biography

Daniel Goleman was born on March 7, 1946 in Stockton, California to Fay Goleman, a professor of sociology, and Irving Goleman, a humanities professor. His maternal uncle was the renowned nuclear physicist Alvin M. Weinberg. Goleman's upbringing in an intellectually driven family fostered his early interest in understanding human behavior and the mind.

Goleman attended Amherst College, graduating magna cum laude in 1968. He then pursued a PhD in clinical psychology and personality development at Harvard University, completing his degree in 1974. During his time at Harvard, influenced by his mentor David C. McClelland, Goleman developed a keen interest in meditation and altered states of consciousness.

Early in his career Goleman traveled extensively to India, where he studied Asian traditions and meditation, which inspired his first book, The Meditative Mind (1977). He returned to Harvard as a visiting lecturer, where he taught a popular course on the psychology of consciousness. In 1984, Goleman joined The New York Times as a science journalist, where he covered psychology and behavioral sciences until 1996.

Significant contributions to the field of psychology, particularly through his work on emotional intelligence, have punctuated Goleman’s career. His 1995 book Emotional Intelligence became a bestseller and transformed how people understand intelligence and success.

Goleman co-founded the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) in 1993 and the Consortium for Research on Emotional Intelligence in Organizations (CREIO) in 1996.

Goleman co-directs CREIO at Rutgers University and sits on the board of the Mind & Life Institute. He continues to write and lecture on emotional intelligence, leadership, and mindfulness and offers online courses and team training programs through the Goleman Consulting Group.

Goleman is a prominent figure in the field of psychology, particularly in emotional intelligence and mindfulness. He lectures frequently and offers training programs that focus on developing emotional intelligence competencies for personal and professional growth.

Book Store

The Meditative Mind: The Varieties of Meditative experience (1977; Harper & Row)

This book explores various meditation systems and their effects on consciousness, reflecting Goleman's early interest in Asian traditions and meditation.

Consciousness, the Brain, States of Awareness, and Alternate Realities (1979; Harper & Row)

This work delves into the nature of consciousness and altered states, building on Goleman's doctoral research.

The Pleasures of Sociology (1980; Alfred A. Knopf)

This book offers insights into the field of sociology, highlighting its relevance to everyday life.

What Psychology Knows That Everyone Should (1981; Harper & Row)

This publication aims to make psychological knowledge accessible to a broader audience.

Introductory Psychology (1982; Harper & Row)

A comprehensive textbook for introductory psychology courses.

Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ (1995; Bantam Books)

This groundbreaking book popularized the concept of emotional intelligence, and emphasizes its role in personal and professional success.

Working with Emotional Intelligence (1998; Bantam Books)

This book applies the principles of emotional intelligence to the workplace, highlighting its importance for career success.

Primal Leadership: Realizing the Power of Emotional Intelligence (2001; Harvard Business School Press)

Co-authored with Richard Boyatzis and Annie McKee, this work explores how emotional intelligence enhances leadership effectiveness.

Destructive Emotions: A Scientific Dialogue with the Dalai Lama (2003; Bantam Books)

This book presents a dialogue between Goleman and the Dalai Lama on managing negative emotions.

Social Intelligence: The New Science of Human Relationships (2006; Bantam Books)

This work extends the concept of emotional intelligence to social relationships, emphasizing empathy and cooperation.

Focus: The Hidden Driver of Excellence (2013; Harper)

This book discusses the importance of attention and mindfulness in achieving success.

A Force for Good: The Dalai Lama's Vision for Our World (2015; Bantam Books)

Co-authored with the Dalai Lama, this book explores the Dalai Lama's vision for creating a more compassionate world.

Altered Traits: Science Reveals How Meditation Changes Your Mind, Brain, and Body (2017; Avery)

Co-authored with Richard J. Davidson, this book examines the scientific basis of meditation's effects on well-being.