Emotional intelligence: summary of two empirical studies

Abstract

Emotional intelligence studies the ability to perceive, understand and reflect on emotions. Its conceptual framework provides a multidimensional and complex concept that allows us to thoroughly explore variations of this set of skills throughout life. This article reviews the major theories on aging and presents the results of two empirical studies comparing different age groups regarding intra and interpersonal skills of emotional intelligence. The results indicated that older adults had more developed resources than young adults, had more resources and capabilities to understand and express their emotions and to recognize those of others. In addition, they perceived a greater self-efficacy to repair their moods and to regulate their emotions in contexts of interpersonal conflict. These findings agree with the background. We introduce some proposals for future research and for designing interventional devices from a positive perspective on aging issues.