Accuracy and sensitivity in dynamic emotion recognition: The role of emotional intelligence

There is currently no consensus on whether emotionally intelligent individuals really are better at recognising facial emotions – a hallmark of emotional intelligence (EI) theory – or, whether EI is a more important predictor than general cognitive ability. This equivocality could be due to procedural variations in investigative approaches taken, e.g., use of static/posed photos of intense emotional expressions vs. ‘real-life’ dynamic video. Differences may also be attributed to the type of EI studied – trait or ability. This study examined whether having high levels of EI (trait or ability) affords an advantage in the detection of subtle, dynamic displays of emotional expressions (happy, sad, angry, disgusted, fearful, surprised). Data from 92 adults (73 females; 19 males; Mean age = 27.80; SD = 11.57) suggest that ability (not trait) EI predicts better performance across all levels of intensity and emotion types. However, effects do not persist beyond the influence of crystallised cognitive ability. This has important theoretical and practical ramifications for the field, particularly given the continued interest in training EI. Findings are discussed in line with current EI theory and recommendations for future research are presented.