The relation of emotional intelligence with the peculiarities of experiencing happiness in psychology students

Abstract

Introduction. The authors consider emotional intelligence in scientific psychological consciousness as a ‘living basis’ for the combination of all mental processes. Emotional intelligence is claimed to be associated with mental states and the possibility of influencing them, which sets new perspectives for the investigation of the most intimate phenomenon in human nature, happiness.Purpose. Identification of interrelations between indicators of emotional intelligence and empathy and correlates of happiness experience in graduate students.Materials and methods. The study sample consisted of 39 female psychology students in the master’s degree programme. The methodological instruments were made up of the Hall Emotional Intelligence Test and Diagnostics of the Empathic Abilities Level (V. Boyko). The authors made a questionary that aims to study the derivative value characteristics of experiencing happiness and assess the severity of enjoyment, optimism, and health level as its correlates. Statistical analysis was performed using the Mann-Whitney U-test, Cronbach’s alpha test, Pearson’s Chi-square test, descriptive statistics, and methods of correlation, factor and cluster analysis.Results. For people with a high level of emotional intelligence, higher indicators of enjoyment and optimism were revealed. A factorial correlation of the indicators of enjoyment and optimism with the indicators of emotional intelligence and empathy was observed, with a ‘weight’ representation of all these indicators at least equal to the average, in 47% of the respondents in the sample. For people with a high level of EI, the determinacy of enjoyment with their studying, self-realization in their major and communication was found. There are links between the level of experiencing enjoyment and its peculiar predictors: love, family, hobbies, having friends, material well-being, and self-realization in the profession.Discussion and conclusion. A high level of emotional intelligence has a positive effect on the experience of enjoyment and optimism. At the same time, the relationship of EI with indicators of enjoyment, optimism, and the level of health seems to be heterogeneous and ambiguous. It is necessary to separate the understanding of EI with the concentration of the aspect of the analysis of this phenomenon mainly on the phenomenon of an entirely empathic attitude towards Other, and separately on the ability to “understand other people well enough, but not have an interest in them”.