Donald Trump's emotional intelligence deficit

Last month, 50 former national security officials who had served at high levels in Republican administrations from Richard Nixon to George W Bush published a letter saying that they would not vote for their party's presidential nominee, Donald Trump. In their words, "a president must be disciplined, control emotions, and act only after reflection and careful deliberation". Simply put, "Trump lacks the temperament to be president". In the terminology of modern leadership theory, Trump is deficient in emotional intelligence - the self-mastery, discipline and empathic capacity that allows leaders to channel their personal passions and attract others. Contrary to the view that feelings interfere with thinking, emotional intelligence - which includes two major components, mastery of the self and outreach to others - suggests that the ability to understand and regulate emotions can make overall thinking more effective.