The influence of emotional intelligence on performance

Emotional intelligence (EI; the ability to perceive, integrate, understand, and manage emotions) may influence appraisals of stressful tasks and subsequent task performance. This study examined the relationship of ability-based EI facets with performance under stress. We expected high levels of EI would promote challenge appraisals and better performance, whereas low EI levels would foster threat appraisals and worse performance. Undergraduates (N = 126) performed mental math and videotaped speech tasks. Certain dimensions of EI were related to more challenge and enhanced performance. Some EI dimensions were related to performance after controlling for cognitive ability, demonstrating incremental validity. This pattern of findings differed somewhat for males and females.