Relations between a self-defeating interpersonal style and trait emotional intelligence

Abstract

The WHO estimates that nearly one in three women are subjected to abuse by their partner. This paper aimed to evaluate the extent to which low emotional intelligence might contribute to a woman's participation in an abusive relationship. Three hundred and eight one adult women completed the Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire (TEIQue), which measures a constellation of emotional perceptions, and the Self-Defeating Interpersonal Style Scale (SELF-DISS), which measures an individual's propensity to enter into and to remain in a relationship with an abusive partner. As predicted, moderate to strong negative correlations were found between the facets and factors of the TEIQue and the factors assessed by the SELF-DISS; particularly strong correlations existed between total SELF-DISS scores and the TEIQue facets of Relationships, Impulse Control, Assertiveness, Emotion Management, Self-Esteem and Happiness.