Trait EI: definition and example
Trait emotional intelligence (trait EI) is a set of emotion-related self-perceptions and dispositions: how you see your own ability to notice, express, and manage feelings. It is measured with self-report questionnaires and sits close to personality.
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The idea in brief
Petrides and Furnham defined trait EI as a constellation of traits and self-perceived abilities, and in two studies found it could be treated as a distinct composite within established personality models (Petrides and Furnham, 2001). In other words, it asks "How do you usually handle emotions?" rather than handing you a problem to solve.
A concrete example
An item might read: "I usually find it easy to calm down after an argument." Someone answering may think of arguments with a sibling, where they cool off fast, and forget the ones with their manager, where they stew for days. That is not dishonesty. Broad self-descriptions average across situations, so the answer depends on which memories come to mind.
What it captures and what it misses
Self-perception matters in its own right, because how capable you feel shapes what you attempt. But it is not the same as observed skill: in one study, self-ratings of emotional abilities did not line up strongly with performance test scores (Brackett and colleagues, 2006). Trait scores can also drift with mood and with the wish to look good, which is why self-report bias and social desirability matter here.
Trait EI versus ability EI at a glance
A trait item sounds like "I can usually tell when a friend is upset." An ability item gives you a short story about the friend and asks which emotion they most likely feel. A person can rate themselves highly on the first and do only moderately on the second, or the reverse. Both results say something real, just about different things: self-perception and performance.
Making a trait result more useful
Attach one example and one exception to any broad statement. "I stay composed at work, except when a client questions my numbers in front of my boss" is more useful than "I stay composed." Compare ability EI for the performance-based view.
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Research notes
- K. V. Petrides, Adrian Furnham (2001). Trait emotional intelligence: psychometric investigation with reference to established trait taxonomies. European Journal of Personality, 15(6), 425-448. Defines trait emotional intelligence as a constellation of traits and self-perceived abilities and, in two studies (N = 227 and N = 166), finds it can be treated as a distinct composite construct within established personality models. Limits: self-report questionnaires. doi.org/10.1002/per.416
- Marc A. Brackett, Susan E. Rivers, Sara Shiffman, Nicole Lerner, Peter Salovey (2006). Relating emotional abilities to social functioning: A comparison of self-report and performance measures of emotional intelligence. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 91(4), 780-795. Found that people's self-ratings of their emotional abilities were not strongly correlated with their scores on a performance test of those abilities. doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.91.4.780
Related
- No. 01EQ glossaryThe words behind emotional intelligence, defined.
- No. 02Ability EIAbility emotional intelligence (ability EI) is the view that EI is a mental ability: how well you perceive, understand, use, and manage emotions when solving actual problems.
- No. 03Self-report biasSelf-report bias is the general problem that people's descriptions of themselves can differ from how they actually think, feel, or behave, because of limited insight, memory, mood, or the wish to look good.
- No. 04Social desirability biasSocial desirability bias is the tendency to answer questions in a way that makes you look good, such as overstating patience or understating irritation.
- No. 05Mixed model of EIA mixed model of emotional intelligence combines emotional skills with broader personal qualities, such as motivation, optimism, or social confidence, under one EI label.
- No. 06Emotional Intelligence Test: Free EQ AssessmentExplore your emotional choices with a free 36-item assessment for adults. Get a profile summary and strongest area, then choose whether to unlock the full report.
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