Abstract
The article examines the theoretical and methodological foundations of critical thinking in order to develop emotional intelligence in the subjective activity of an intellectual person in interpertation with new traditions and trends. The concepts of "thinking", "emotion", "emotional intelligence", "critical thinking", "intellectual abilities", "intellectual process" were disclosed, allowing to theoretically substantiate the relationship of critical thinking to the development of emotional intelligence of students through a review of psychological and pedagogical, philosophical literature. In the course of the study, the structure of the correlation of intellectual processes of mental actions of the personality was developed, contributing to the definition of the psychological attitude of critical thinking in the development of emotional intelligence of students. The considered methodological approaches as synergetic, motivational, cognitive allowed to substantiate the integrated scheme of concepts, and abilities of critical and logical thinking and communication of personality. The author clarified the psychological mechanism of critical thinking in the development of emotional intelligence of students through theoretical findings and judgments studied in the article. The results of the experimental work showed the effectiveness of the proposed method of formation of critical thinking activity in the development of emotional intelligence of students, resulting in the dynamics of levels of control and evaluation of emotional intelligence of the student. The scientific results of the study were the fulfilled functions of the psychological mechanisms of critical thinking in the development of emotional intelligence of students, in the process of which they increased the desire for successful learning and acquired skills to regulate their emotions in the process of communication. Key words: intellect, thinking, emotions, emotional intelligence, critical thinking, intellectual process, cognitive activity