Title

Emotional Intelligence Is A Second-Stratum Factor Of Intelligence: Evidence From Hierarchical And Bifactor Models

Keywords

Cattell-Horn-Carroll (CHC) theory; Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA); Emotional intelligence; Mayer-salovey-caruso emotional intelligence test (MSCEIT); Structural equation modeling (SEM)

Abstract

This article examines the status of emotional intelligence (EI) within the structure of human cognitive abilities. To evaluate whether EI is a 2nd-stratum factor of intelligence, data were fit to a series of structural models involving 3 indicators each for fluid intelligence, crystallized intelligence, quantitative reasoning, visual processing, and broad retrieval ability, as well as 2 indicators each for emotion perception, emotion understanding, and emotion management. Unidimensional, multidimensional, hierarchical, and bifactor solutions were estimated in a sample of 688 college and community college students. Results suggest adequate fit for 2 models: (a) an oblique 8-factor model (with 5 traditional cognitive ability factors and 3 EI factors) and (b) a hierarchical solution (with cognitive g at the highest level and EI representing a 2nd-stratum factor that loads onto g at λ =.80). The acceptable relative fit of the hierarchical model confirms the notion that EI is a group factor of cognitive ability, marking the expression of intelligence in the emotion domain. The discussion proposes a possible expansion of Cattell-Horn-Carroll theory to include EI as a 2nd-stratum factor of similar standing to factors such as fluid intelligence and visual processing. © 2013 American Psychological Association.

Publication Date

1-1-2014

Publication Title

Emotion

Volume

14

Issue

2

Number of Pages

358-374

Document Type

Article

Personal Identifier

scopus

DOI Link

https://doi.org/10.1037/a0034755

Socpus ID

84897961088 (Scopus)

Source API URL

https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/84897961088

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