Emotional intelligence, empathy and the educative power of poetry: a Deleuzo-Guattarian perspective

The concept of emotional intelligence is gaining increasing precedence in the nursing literature, with particular emphasis placed upon its importance for various aspects of the nursing profession and the demand for greater attention to be given to its development in the education of nurses. Accordingly, this paper will seek to contribute to this emerging body of research by proposing that the employment of poetry in the education of mental health nurses provides a valuable opportunity for the development of emotional intelligence and, in particular, the development of one of the central characteristics of emotional intelligence; namely, empathy. Moreover, while the nature of the relationship between nursing and the arts is gaining increasing attention, this paper will focus upon the account of art given by Gilles Deleuze - one of the most important philosophers of the 20th century - and his long-time collaborator Felix Guattari. In particular, in order to develop a Deleuzo-Guattarian account of the educative power of poetry, and the manner in which it provides a valuable opportunity for the development of emotional intelligence, and of empathy in particular, this paper will employ their account of the 'percept' and the 'affect', introduced in their final collaborative work What is Philosophy?