Personality, emotional intelligence and other-rated task performance

The present study examined relationships between the meta traits of stability (Alpha) and plasticity (Beta) with trait emotional intelligence (EI) and other-rated task performance. One hundred and eighty participants provided information regarding stability, plasticity, and emotional intelligence. Participants' task performance was rated by four peer observers. Both greater stability, composed of characteristics relating to emotional stability, agreeableness and conscientiousness, and greater plasticity, composed of characteristics relating to extraversion and openness, were associated with higher emotional intelligence and better other-rated task performance. Higher trait EI was associated with better task performance. EI was a significant mediating path between both stability and performance and between plasticity and performance. The findings support the utility of the EI construct. Additionally, these findings are congruent with a theoretical hierarchical structure of personality; in which meta traits provide a basis for the development of more differentiated traits, such as EI, which then impact behavior.