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The relationship between trait emotional intelligence and creativity across subject domains

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Abstract

This study investigated the association between two creativity indicators: Divergent Thinking (DT) and Creative Personality (CP), and key aspects of cognitive ability, personality (Big Five), and trait emotional intelligence (trait EI or trait emotional self-efficacy). The sample consisted of 175 Spanish undergraduates and recent graduates from three university subject domains: Technical & Natural Sciences, Social Sciences, and Arts. Cognitive ability was found to bear little relationship to either index of creativity. In contrast, strong relationships were demonstrated between personality traits, including trait EI, and creativity, some of which varied significantly across subject domains. Results suggest that future research will have to pay particular attention to individual differences in the affective parts of the personality realm that are comprehensively captured by the construct of trait EI.

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  1. All forms and versions of TEIQue are available, free of charge, for research purposes, from www.psychometriclab.com.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Social Sciences, Lebanese American University, Byblos, Lebanon

    M. J. Sánchez-Ruiz

  2. Neag Center for Gifted Education and Talent Development, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA

    D. Hernández-Torrano

  3. Faculty of Education, Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia (UNED), Madrid, Spain

    J. C. Pérez-González

  4. Manchester Business School, Manchester, UK

    M. Batey

  5. Department of Psychology, University College of London, 26 Bedford Way, London, WC1H 0AP, UK

    K. V. Petrides

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Sánchez-Ruiz, M.J., Hernández-Torrano, D., Pérez-González, J.C. et al. The relationship between trait emotional intelligence and creativity across subject domains. Motiv Emot 35, 461–473 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11031-011-9227-8

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