The Habits of Mind, Persisting, Managing Impulsivity, Listening with Understanding and
Empathy, Finding Humour and Responding with Wonderment and Awe, incorporate
recognition of the significance of emotions within the learning process. For example, it
makes intuitive sense that empathy for another person requires some skills in reading
emotional cues, and that laughing at oneself and the world is closely related to oneís
emotions. Additionally, it also makes intuitive sense that persisting and managing
impulsivity presupposes an ability to manage oneís emotional responses.
Some writers (Goleman, 1995; Mayer, Caruso & Salovey, 1999) have argued for the
categorisation of ëemotional intelligenceí as a form of intelligence. Emotional
intelligence has been defined as the ability to recognise the meanings of emotions and
solve problems using this emotional knowledge (Mayer, et al, 1999). Golemanís (1995)
conceptions of emotional intelligence include the skills of empathy, impulse control,
persistence and delayed gratification. Some studies have found positive correlation
between emotional intelligence and self-esteem, sociability and life-satisfaction (Mayer,
Salovey & Caruso, 2000). It could be argued that employment of the aforementioned
HoM might indicate a certain level of emotional intelligence and potentially lead to
improvements in self-esteem, sociability and life satisfaction.
Closely related to emotional intelligence is the concept of ëresilienceí. Resilience
describes oneís ability to succeed despite adverse circumstances. Suggested resiliencebuilding
strategies include HoM related skills such as persisting, working in teams, selfunderstanding
and reframing viewpoints (Miller, 1996).