Emotional intelligence: More than personality and cognitive ability?

Abstract

This chapter addresses key questions about how emotional intelligence (EI) should be conceptualized. Is EI distinct from existing personality and ability constructs? If so, what are the main components that distinguish it from these constructs and how might it be included within a multistratum model capable of predicting more favourable adaptation within real-world social environments? Is EI predominantly a single domain or is it multifactorial? If it is a separate entity, can it be improved by training? Does EI change over the life span? The chapter considers relationships between three different measures of EI, five personality traits, two different cognitive abilities, and several life skills. It aims to test whether EI has predictive validity for these life skills, beyond contributions of personality and cognitive abilities to these outcomes.