EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE – A KEY ELEMENT IN THE PROFESSIONAL – PERSONAL PROFILE OF THE TEACHER

Abstract

The current report presents results from a recently conducted study on the problem of emotional intelligence as a key element of the professional – personal profile of the contemporary teacher. Current levels of separate components of emotional intelligence of teachers, who undertake professional pedagogical activity in kindergarten and initial stages of the primary educational degree, are established on the basis of an empirical study with a conclusive character. Furthermore, the meaning of emotional intelligence for the professional growth of the pedagogue is revealed. The levels of emotional intelligence components of child and primary teachers are presented in a comparative perspective. Special attention is given to the following components: self-control, self-cognition, motivation, empathy, and social skills. The specific socio – psychological characteristics of the professional environment, in which child and primary teachers work, in a certain way reflect on their higher level of emotional intelligence. This, undisputedly, has a positive influence on their professional adaptiveness and on the effectiveness of their pedagogical activities.