Authors: Suhashani Raghuwanshi
Abstract: This paper explores the role of emotional intelligence (EI) in humanizing the humanities curriculum and enhancing students' personal, social, and intellectual development. While traditional humanities education has focused primarily on knowledge acquisition and critical analysis, contemporary educational needs demand greater attention to emotional awareness, empathy, communication, and ethical understanding. The paper argues that humanities disciplines—such as literature, history, philosophy, and the arts—provide rich opportunities for cultivating emotional intelligence through engagement with diverse human experiences and perspectives. By integrating reflective practices, collaborative learning, storytelling, and creative expression into the curriculum, educators can foster self-awareness, empathy, emotional regulation, and interpersonal skills among learners. The study highlights the benefits of emotionally intelligent humanities education, including increased student engagement, improved communication, enhanced critical thinking, greater cultural sensitivity, and better well-being. It also acknowledges challenges related to teacher preparation and assessment of emotional competencies. Overall, the paper concludes that embedding emotional intelligence within humanities education can create a more inclusive, compassionate, and human-centered learning environment that prepares students for both professional success and responsible citizenship.
