Considered to be one of the most influential psychologists of recent times, Daniel Goleman burst onto the international scene as the best-selling author of 'Emotional Intelligence'. Goleman maintains that we should teach our children how to practice and develop emotional intelligence. The psychologist stresses the fundamental importance that our ability to focus our attention plays in today's world, either as a way to practice self-control, to improve our ability to empathize with others, or better understand the world around us, and so there are benefits to training it: "Attention is like a muscle. if we don't use it, it gets weak: if we exercise it, it gets strong." he declares.