Introducing Trait EI

The purpose of this introductory chapter is to introduce the Trait Emotional Intelligence (trait EI) construct selected as the foundation of this book, to examine the role that trait EI has in leadership and education, and to provide a history of the trait EI construct. In addition, this chapter discusses the principal arguments in the scholarly literature that reinforce the importance of the trait EI construct by examining the reliability and validity of trait EI, discussing the benefits of trait EI, and presenting the paradigms of those scholars who believe that that individuals can enhance their current trait EI skills and techniques through training. Finally, this chapter will also discuss the principal contentions in the scholarly literature that oppose the trait EI construct by examining the unreliability and invalidity of trait EI, discussing the disadvantages of trait EI, and presenting arguments that individuals cannot enhance their current trait EI skills and techniques through training.