Differential Relations Between Facets of Agreeableness and Ability-Based Measures of Strategic Emotional Intelligence

Abstract. Since classical intelligence factors are almost independent of personality, independence from personality is expected analogously for new intelligence factors, such as Emotional Intelligence (EI). However, performance tests of Strategic EI, in particular, consistently show a positive relationship with self-reports of Agreeableness which has not yet been the subject of more detailed investigations. This paper aims to elucidate this relationship with a focus on facet-level relationships. In a study with N = 176 participants, the correlations between two strategic EI measures on the one hand, and measures of the Big Five personality factors as well as the facets of Agreeableness, on the other hand, are estimated at the level of latent variables. The results suggest that the relationships vary markedly by the facet of Agreeableness. Strategic EI measures are specifically correlated with measures of Agreeableness facets that include agreeable behavior for which emotional abilities are required. Furthermore, the results indicate that the strength of relationships between EI measures with personality traits depends on the scoring procedures (consensus vs. theory-based scoring) used for tests of EI.