Abstract

ABSTRACT

Individuals subconsciously convey emotions through language. The present study investigates the relationship between emotional intelligence (EQ) and language style matching (LSM). Emotional intelligence involves the ability to regulate, maintain, and express one’s emotions and to perceive the emotion of others. LSM involves the phenomenon that when individuals talk they tend to mimic each other’s word usage (Neiderhoffer & Pennebaker, 2002). The hypothesis of the present study is that individuals who are emotionally intelligent subconsciously match their language to their communication partner. Ten participants from the University of Central Florida’s Psychology Department were given an emotional intelligence test. The participants were then asked to submit three text conversations stored in their phones, one in which they interpret as a positive encounter, another which they interpret as a negative encounter, and one interpreted as a neutral encounter. Bivariate correlations were used to analyze the data. The results did not support the hypothesis.

Keywords: Emotional Intelligence, Language Style Matching, Empathy

Thesis Completion

2017

Semester

Spring

Thesis Chair/Advisor

Whitten, Shannon N.

Degree

Bachelor of Science (B.S.)

College

College of Undergraduate Studies

Department

Psychology

Degree Program

Psychology

Location

UCF Palm Bay

Language

English

Access Status

Open Access

Release Date

5-1-2017

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Included in

Psychology Commons

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