Emotional Intelligence and Social Perception

Abstract

The present study had the chief aim of validating the new Social Perception Test (SPT) as a veridically scored, pragmatic measure of Emotional Intelligence (EI). To this end the SPT was compared to three similarly visually based tests – picture and video versions of the Interpersonal Perception Task-15 (IPT-15), and the Reading the Mind in the Eyes (RTMITE) test. The SPT was also compared to a baseline measure, the Autism Quotient (AQ), to attempt to control for the poor convergence suffered by tests of nonverbal perception. The study found a significant positive correlation between the SPT and the RTMITE test, and a significant negative correlation between the SPT and AQ, both of which supported our aim. However, no significant correlations were found between the SPT and either of the IPT-15 variants. These findings provide partial convergent validation of the SPT. Additional results regarding self report estimates of performance and video vs picture tests, as well as suggestions for further research are also discussed.