The Relationship between Mixed Model Emotional Intelligence and Personality

Abstract

Mixed model emotional intelligence and trait measures of personality have been shown to be substantially correlated in the research literature. At the same time, mixed model EI seems to offer good incremental validity over and above personality. Previous research has used correlation studies and joint factor analysis to examine the relationship between EI and personality and found that EI loaded as a separate construct in personality factor space. Owing to the possibility of method artefact when using joint factor analysis across two variable sets, this study explored the EI-personality relationship by means of interbattery factor analyses. Two trait personality questionnaires, the Hogan Personality Inventory and the Work Personality Index, were used along with the Emotional Quotient Inventory (EQ-i) as a measure of emotional intelligence. Two independent samples were used, each made up of secondary data collected from respondents ( n = 388; n = 615) who completed the assessments for selection or development purposes. Some similar factors emerged in both analyses, pointing to three robust areas of overlap between mixed model EI and personality: (1) behaviours related to internal constraint, (2) interpersonal functioning, and (3) components related to extraverted behaviour. The results of this study facilitate our understanding of the relationship between mixed model EI and personality. They also provide more clarity on the EQ-i's theoretical base in relation to mainstream personality research.