Emotional intelligence predicts peer-rated social competence above and beyond personality traits

Dorota Szczygieł , Joanna Weber

Abstract

This study investigated the relationship between trait emotional intelligence (EI) and social competences (SC), which determine effective functioning in three types of social situations: intimate situations, situations of social exposure and situations requiring self-assertion. Social competences were assessed using a peer nomination method. It was hypothesized that trait EI predicts SC above and beyond personality traits.