Personality, Emotional Intelligence and Happiness: A Study of Scientists and Non-Scientists

Abstract

This study aims at assessing the personality traits of scientists and non-scientists and finding out their relationship with emotional intelligence and happiness. The data was collected from 134 scientists and 122 non-scientists (technical, administrative, and financial staff) from Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) by administering Big-Five Inventory (BFI), Emotional Intelligence Test (EIT) and Oxford Happiness Inventory (OHI). The results indicate that scientists differed from nonscientists in three out of five personality traits. They have lower levels of extraversion and conscientiousness, but higher levels of openness to experiences. In emotional intelligence domain, scientists have relatively lower levels of ‘Managing Emotions’ and higher levels of ‘Motivating Oneself’ compared to non-scientists. The levels of happiness did not differ between the scientists and non-scientists. Personality traits, viz., Extraversion, Agreeableness, Conscientiousness and Openness, were positively related and Neuroticism was negatively related with both emotional intelligence and happiness across the two groups. Emotional intelligence and happiness were found to be positively related. From the findings, the role of personality traits in establishing the relationship between one’s emotional intelligence and happiness is inferred. Since emotional intelligence can be learned, it is suggested to incorporate it in employees’ in-service training programs, which will result in enhancing happiness and thus improving their overall productivity.