Trait Emotional Intelligence Theory

In addition to trait EI, Cherniss identifies three other EI models whose main limitations must be succinctly mentioned, not least because they provided the impetus for the development of the trait EI model. Bar-On’s (1997) model is predicated on the problematic assumption that emotional intelligence (or ‘‘ability’’ or ‘‘competence’’ or ‘‘skill’’ or ‘‘potential’’—terms that appear to be used interchangeably in his writings) can be validly assessed through self-report questions of the type ‘‘It is easy for me to understand my emotions.’’ Psychometrically, as pointed out in Petrides and Furnham (2001), this is not a viable position because such self-report questions can only be tapping into self-perceptions rather than into abilities or competencies. This poses a fundamental threat to the validity of this model, far more serious than the pervasive faking problem noted by several authors (e.g., Grubb & McDaniel, 2008). Goleman’s (1995) model is difficult to evaluate scientifically because of its reliance on