Overlap between the general factor of personality and emotional intelligence: A meta-analysis

Authors

Dimitri van der Linden, Erasmus Universiteit Rotterdam
Keri A. Pekaar, Erasmus Universiteit Rotterdam
Arnold B. Bakker, Erasmus Universiteit Rotterdam
Julie Aitken Schermer, Western UniversityFollow
Philip A. Vernon, Western University
Curtis S. Dunkel, Western Illinois University
K. V. Petrides, University College London

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-1-2017

Volume

143

Issue

1

Journal

Psychological Bulletin

First Page

36

URL with Digital Object Identifier

10.1037/bul0000078

Last Page

52

Abstract

We examine the relationship between the general factor of personality (GFP) and emotional intelligence (EI) and specifically test the hypothesis that the GFP is a social effectiveness factor overlapping conceptually with EI. Presented is an extensive meta-analysis in which the associations between the GFP, extracted from the Big Five dimensions, with various EI measures is examined. Based on a total sample of k = 142 data sources (N = 36,268) the 2 major findings from the meta-analysis were (a) a large overlap between the GFP and trait EI (r ≈ .85); and (b) a positive, but more moderate, correlation with ability EI (r ≈ .28). These findings show that high-GFP individuals score higher on trait and ability EI, supporting the notion that the GFP is a social effectiveness factor. The findings also suggest that the GFP is very similar, perhaps even synonymous, to trait EI.