Developing Emotional Intelligence in Social and Emotional Learning

This chapter provides a critical overview of the evidence on the impact of social and emotional learning (SEL) programs on emotional intelligence (EI). The social and emotional learning movement and research on emotional intelligence are intimately linked. However, exuberance for social and emotional learning in educational circles has contributed to a situation in which program implementation and evaluation has gotten ahead of the impact of social and emotional learning on emotional intelligence as a measureable psychological construct, and frequently ignores relevant theoretical issues. Mapping out this terrain, the chapter shows that despite the extensive research on the impact of SEL on key indicators of academic success and youth well-being, compelling evidence that SEL affects the development of EI remains scant.