What is the term for the ability to understand, manage, and respond effectively to one's own emotions and the emotions of others?

• A. Unity of command
• B. Sworn members
• C. Adverse impact
• D. Emotional intelligence

Answer: (D)

Emotional intelligence is the ability to understand, interpret, and respond to emotions in yourself and in others. It involves recognizing feelings as they arise (self-awareness), controlling impulses and reactions (self-regulation), using emotional information to guide decisions and actions, and navigating social interactions with empathy and effective communication. In policing, high emotional intelligence helps you read tense situations, de-escalate conflicts, connect with community members, and work well with teammates.

The other terms don’t fit this concept: unity of command is about having a clear supervisory structure, sworn members refer to officers who have taken an oath, and adverse impact describes a policy’s disproportionate effect on a protected group.