The application of emotional intelligence in the reduction of risk factors: New perspectives in career counseling and development

Emotional intelligence has become a significant area of interest in the scientific community over the past decade and a half. This article aims to describe the historical development of the emotional intelligence construct and to delineate its possible role in the reduction of risk factors and potential application in career decision-making and development. Research on the application of emotional intelligence for preventive purposes is described, highlighting in particular the results of empirical studies conducted for the first time in Italy on the relationships between emotional intelligence and career decision-making variables (including career decision-making difficulties, decisional style and indecisiveness). These results open new possibilities for research and intervention in a prevention perspective in the field of counseling and career counseling.