An Examination of the Personality Structural Foundations of Facets of Emotional Intelligence

Previous research has examined the relationship between trait emotional intelligence (EI) and the Big Five factors of personality but until now trait EI has not been mapped empirically to the Abridged Big Five-Dimensional Circumplex (AB5C), a more refined model that represents blends of the Big Five factors. Following the methodology applied by Woods and Anderson in 2016 to construct the Periodic Table of Personality, 26 facets of trait EI were mapped empirically to the AB5C framework (N = 231). The aims of this study were to specify the personality foundations of trait EI more precisely and to explore the conceptual relationship between facets of trait EI and blends of the Big Five personality factors as represented by the AB5C framework. Results indicate that trait EI facets map most closely to the primary factors of Emotional Stability (r = .38 to .74) and Agreeableness (r = .33 to .67), in contrast to previous broader meta-analytic studies that indicate global trait EI maps more strongly to Extraversion than Agreeableness. Several sectors of the personality framework were more heavily populated by trait EI facets, notably the blend of Emotional Stability and Conscientiousness. Some sectors of the framework under-represented by personality inventories, such as the blend of Agreeableness and Openness, were mapped by trait EI facets. More broadly, our findings contribute to the literature on the conceptual and criterion utility of trait EI alongside broad personality dimensions, and act as a template and catalyst for future similar studies and cross-comparison with other trait EI measures.