This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies. Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: A widely held belief that women have more emotional intelligence than men does not hold up under scrutiny, according to a large study of research spanning three decades. The analysis combined 1,279 academic papers and data from 609,278 people in 76 countries.
It found that women score higher, on average, at recognizing and understanding emotions. But when it comes to regulating emotions, the picture shifts: Men and boys tend to score higher on tasks that involve managing their own feelings, while women score higher on tasks that involve managing other people's. The results also depend on how emotional intelligence is measured.
Women's advantage is larger on performance-based tests, where people complete tasks that are scored for accuracy. It is smaller on self-report surveys, where people rate their own ability. Mary Hausfeld of the University of Limerick, with Vera Hampel and Leon Bach of the University of Zurich, and Jochen Menges, a professor of leadership at Cambridge Judge Business School and the University of Zurich.
It is published in the journal Emotion. "Women are emotionally intelligent. Men think they are," said Menges.
"On performance-based tests, women's advantage is substantial. On self-reports, it almost disappears. Self-perception and demonstrated ability are not the same thing." He said the researchers could not determine why the gap exists.
"Men may overestimate their abilities, women may underestimate theirs, or both may be happening. Either way, confidence and competence are not the same, and organizations should not confuse them." The researchers say emotional intelligence should not be treated as one quality. They split it into recognizing, understanding and regulating emotions, both in oneself and in others.
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