Emotional intelligence (EI) involves the ability to understand and manage one's own emotions and recognize emotions in others. There are three main models of EI: ability-based EI focuses on competencies and skills; mixed models incorporate both emotional abilities and emotional self-perceptions; trait EI refers to self-perceptions of emotional abilities. EI involves interpersonal skills like empathy as well as intrapersonal skills like self-awareness and stress management that can help one cope with environmental demands.