Phenotypic and genetic associations between the big five and trait emotional intelligence.
This study reports the first behavioral genetic investigation of the extent to which genetic and/or environmental factors contribute to the relationship between the Big Five personality factors and trait emotional intelligence. 213 pairs of adult monozygotic twins and 103 pairs of same-sex dizygotic twins completed the NEO-PI-R and the Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire (TEIQue). Replicating previous non-twin studies, many significant phenotypic correlations were found between the Big Five factors - especially Neuroticism, Extraversion, and Conscientiousness - and the facets, factors, and global scores derived from the TEIQue. Bivariate behavioral genetic model-fitting analyses revealed that these phenotypic correlations were primarily attributable to correlated genetic factors and secondarily to correlated non-shared environmental factors. The results support the feasibility of incorporating EI as a trait within existing personality taxonomies.
Vernon
Philip A
PA
Department of Psychology, University of Western Ontario, Canada. vernon@uwo.ca
Villani
Vanessa C
VC
Schermer
Julie Aitken
JA
Petrides
K V
KV
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007360:Intelligence / Q000235:genetics*; D007361:Intelligence Tests; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010556:Personality Tests; D010641:Phenotype; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014429:Twins, Dizygotic / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology; D014430:Twins, Monozygotic / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology; D055815:Young Adult