Whether it is the public speeches of Martin Luther King Jr. or even Adolf Hitler, emotional intelligence is at play to persuade and influence the mass audience.The world's most influential leaders have harnessed the power of emotions in both positive and negative sides.

Using Emotion to Influence

When an emotionally charged speech is given, the people hearing it surprisingly do not give much attention to the content. They only seem to recall the raw emotional power and do not scrutinize the message that is conveyed.

Emotion Overshadows Content

People having psychopathic tendencies and self-serving purposes can use Emotional Intelligence (EI) as a weapon to manipulate others.Example: Some office team members demean and embarrass their colleagues, using emotion to hurt their psyche.

The Dark Side of EI

A way to manipulate emotionally, used by the emotionally intelligent people, is to only show the emotions selectively, for personal gain.Emotions are shaped according to what will influence effectively, shaping the mindsets of others as suitable to them.

Manipulation by Selective Emotions

Since the 1995 publication of Daniel Goleman's bestseller, emotional intelligence has been touted by leaders, policymakers, and educators as the solution to a wide range of social problems. If we can teach our children to manage emotions, the argument goes, we'll have less bullying and more cooperation.