Emotional Intelligence and Social Interest: are they related constructs?

Autores/as

  • Andres Chamarro Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona
  • Ursula Oberst Facultat de Psicologia, Ciències de l'Educació i de l'Esport Blanquerna. Universitat Ramon Llull

Resumen

Abstract In the last 15 years, a new psychological construct has emerged in the field of psychology: Emotional Intelligence. Some models of Emotional Intelligence bear ressemblence with aspects of one of the core constructs of Adlerian Psychology: Social Interest. The authors investigated, if both constructs are also empirically related and which is their capacity to predict psychiatric symptoms and antisocial behavior. Results indicate that Social Interest and Emotional Intelligence are empirically different constructs; Social Interest was negatively correlated to aspects of antisocial attitudes (but not to antisocial behavior). Social Interest also failed to predict symptoms of psychological distress. Emotional Intelligence, in change, was a better predictor for mental problems than Social Interest. The results are discussed in view of the validity of Social Interest measurement. Key words: Emotional intelligence, social interest, antisocial behavior, positive psychology, prosocial behavior.

Biografía del autor/a

Andres Chamarro, Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona

Profesor LectorDept. de Psicología Básica, Evolutiva y de la Educación  

Publicado

2012-06-06