The Relationship between Thinking Styles and Emotional Intelligence: An Exploratory Study

Abstract

In this study we explore the association between thinking styles and emotional intelligence. Participants ( N = 309) completed Sternberg's Thinking Styles Inventory (TSI) and the Schutte Self-Report Inventory (SSRI) for emotional intelligence. Statistical analysis of the scores of the participants on the two instruments indicates that there is an overlap between the TSI and the SSRI, and suggests that they measure similar constructs. The results show that thinking styles are significant predictors of emotional intelligence and that participants who have high emotional intelligence prefer more complex and creative thinking styles.