Emotional Intelligence Gaps Across the Generations

New global study reveals striking contrasts between generations, including serious threats to GenZ and concerning questions about the Boomer generation.

by Joshua Freedman

Emotional intelligence is the ability to accurately acquire data from feelings and to effectively use that data to solve problems. In other words, it’s being smarter with feelings — an essential skillset for building healthy relationships & teams, negotiating, and leading self & others. EQ, or emotional quotient, is the measure of emotional intelligence. Overall EQ declined sharply in 2020, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

In a diverse and changing world where people of all ages need to find new ways to work together, there’s great value in going “below the tip of the iceberg” toward deeper understanding. While some aspects of generational difference might be simply due to age, the pandemic offers a unique lens to see how generational differences can form. These insights into generational patterns and differences can help us improve our empathy, collaboration and communication.

State of the Heart is the world’s largest study of emotional intelligence; it began in 2011. Using a random sampling from 129 countries, the study is the global benchmark for EQ. The 2021 State of the Heart Report goes in depth on generational differences; here are three of the key findings:

In her new book & newsletter on staying sane in an era of existential threat, Britt Wray describes GenZ as “generation dread.” Faced with the trauma of coming of age in a world where the future is profoundly uncertain, Wray offers science that mental health and climate health are inexorably linked. As Dr. Wray puts it, “The future of life on Earth demands that we upgrade our emotional intelligence.” While this may be dramatic, study after study is showing profound and dangerous emotional effects on people 10-24 years old.

The CIGNA loneliness studies show that people, in general, are feeling more lonely than ever — and that loneliness is a bellwether for diminished wellbeing and higher rates of brain illness. Other studies show that a sense of community — both close personal connections and broader social integration — are the top predictors of longevity.

Another concerning finding in the State of the Heart data relates to Baby Boomer leadership. We might expect that older generations have a larger sphere of concern and a social role of leading their families and communities. Therefore, Boomers would need both high levels of empathy and an orientation toward influencing others.  

This combination could lead to a self-centeredness and inhibit this generation’s ability to lead. In a time when the world urgently needs empathic leadership to engage and inspire others, it’s time to increase emotional intelligence.

Learn more about these findings as well as insights on gender and geographic differences in the full State of the Heart Report, which is freely available here.