Identifying relationships between trait emotional intelligence and the propensity of an individual to trust others: A correlational study

This non-experimental, quantitative correlational analysis studying potential relationships from each facet of trait emotional intelligence with the variable for interpersonal trust was conducted due to the lack of empirical evidence available in the scholarly literature linking emotional intelligence with trust. 162 participants fully completed the 195 item survey which included the instruments of interpersonal trust (Rotter, 1967) and trait emotional intelligence TEIQue (Petrides, 2009). Analysis was conducted checking normality and then either using Pearson r correlational analysis or the Spearman rho correlation coefficient. Statistically significant results showing a relationship between the propensity of an individual to trust others (Interpersonal Trust) and five facets of trait emotional intelligence occurred.