Salovey and Mayer Four Branches of Emotional Intelligence

Salovey and Mayer Four Branches of Emotional Intelligence

Criticism

Case Study

Further Research

While the Salovey and Mayer's four branches of emotional intelligence (EI) is commonly accepted by the psychological community, there are some doubts and information lacking. In the future, the correlation between the measures of the MSCEIT tests and the factor analytical results of the Emotional Perception portion of the MSCEIT will be further investigated to better understand the true correlation in order to determine the validity of the test.

 According to Roberts et al., there are serious doubts concerning the validity of at least the Emotion Perception portion of the MSCEIT. At this stage it cannot be suggested that the MSCEIT has withstood important aspects of the validation process; however, it cannot be discredited as a whole at this time.

Vitello-Ciccui conducted a trial with 50 nurse managers. Nurse managers usually tend to score high EI scores; however, Vitello-Ciccui interviewed nurse managers who scored one standard deviation above and below the mean EI score (100). The interview conducted concluded that nurses who scored below the mean score described themselves as tired or stressed-out, which would explain the low EI scores. The nurses who scored higher EI scores recognized the emotion and were able to assist the distressed participants.

By Emma Tracey

Scoring

The Branch Breakdown

Furthermore

The MSCEIT yields 15 scores: a total score, two area scores (experiential and strategic), four branch scores (corresponding to the four-branch model), and eight task scores.

According to Sanchez-Garcia et al., "Each of the branches is evaluated by two tasks. The ability to perceive emotions is determined by perceiving emotions in facial expressions and photographs; the Emotional Facilitating factor is measured by sensations and facilitation tasks, and the ability to understand emotions is assessed through one task for blending emotions and another for combining emotional changes or transformations"

The MSCEIT is widely accepted as the top emotional intelligence test in the field, it is even more highly rated than IQ tests; however, there are some flaws according to critics. In the future, there will be further investigation into the validity of this test and the correlations in studied materials.

Four Branches of Emotional Intelligence Breakdown

The MSCEIT is broken into 2 areas, 4 branches, and 2 tasks per branch. Below is an illustration.

Emotional Intelligence Defined

The Breakdown

Different Instruments to Measure EI

References

The MSCEIT is broken into two areas: Experiential and Strategic. These areas are then broken into four branches: Perception, Facilitating, Understanding, and Managing. Each branch is then broken into two tasks in order to evaluate the ability under varying circumstances.

 Various EI measuring instruments have been developed, such as the Multi-Emotional Intelligence Scale, the Situational Test of Emotional Understanding , and the Test of Emotional Intelligence; however, the Mayer-Salovey- Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test (MSCEIT) is the most widely accepted.

 In 1997, Mayer and Salovey argued that emotional intelligence is most accurately defined as the ability to perceive, assess, and express emotions; access and generate sensations; understand emotions; and the ability to regulate emotions to grow both intellectually and emotionally.1

1. Sanchez-Garcia, M., Extremera, N., & Fernandez-Berrocal, P. (2016). The factor structure and psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the Mayer-Salovey-Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test. Psychological Assessment, 28(11), 1404-1415. doi:10.1037/pas0000269

2. Roberts, R. D., Schulze, R., O'Brien, K., MacCann, C., Reid, J., & Maul, A. (2006). Exploring the validity of the Mayer-Salovey-Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test (MSCEIT) with established emotions measures. Emotion, 6(4), 663-669. doi:10.1037/1528-3542.6.4.663

3. Mayer, J. D., Salovey, P., & Caruso, D. R. (2004). TARGET ARTICLES:" Emotional Intelligence: Theory, Findings, and Implications". Psychological inquiry, 15(3), 197-215.