Trait emotional intelligence: The impact of core-self evaluations and social desirability

Past criticisms of trait emotional intelligence (EI) have questioned its divergent and incremental validity related to the Big-5 dimensions of personality. This study introduces social desirability and core-self evaluations as an even greater hurdle for trait EI. In a field study of 180 employees, these two variables predict 62% of the variance in trait EI (compared to 29% from the Big-5). With the Big-5 dimensions of personality and IQ controlled, trait EI predicts coping, stress, and life satisfaction. When core-self evaluations and social desirability are added as additional control variables, the incremental validity coefficients between trait EI and the three criteria are largely reduced. However, trait EI significantly predicts incremental variance in coping, stress, and life satisfaction even after controlling for the Big-5, IQ, core-self evaluations, and social desirability.