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Phenotypic and Genetic Associations Between the Big Five and Trait Emotional Intelligence

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 February 2012

Philip A. Vernon*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University ofWestern Ontario, Canada. vernon@uwo.ca
Vanessa C. Villani
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University ofWestern Ontario, Canada.
Julie Aitken Schermer
Affiliation:
Management and Organizational Studies, University ofWestern Ontario, Canada.
K. V. Petrides
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University College London, United Kingdom.
*
*Address for correspondence: Philip A. Vernon, Department of Psychology, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, N6A 5C2, Canada.

Abstract

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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.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2008