The Relationship between Emotional Intelligence and Perceptions of Toxic Leadership Behaviors

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For this study, I am examining the relationship between emotional intelligence and the perception of toxic leadership behaviors between supervisors and subordinates. I am also examining if emotional intelligence is a factor in participants’ ratings of each actor in these scenarios. Emotional Intelligence (EI) is a mental ability that helps guide people’s thinking during interactions with their environment. Past research shows gender differences in EI as well as perceptions of toxic leadership. Past research also shows that perceptions of toxic leadership behavior can impact an employee’s overall well-being. If other individual differences impact perceptions of questionable leadership tactics and certain groups are at a greater risk for experiencing toxic leadership situations, it is imperative for organizations to create specific management interventions that help counteract these negative perceptions. The TEIQUE–SF survey and a series of vignettes describing leader and subordinate interactions will be used to measure EI and perceptions of toxic leaders, respectively. There is limited research addressing how different personal characteristics affect the perceptions of toxic leaders. Other researchers have called for exploring how not only gender, but other differences, such as age and culture impact how leaders are perceived. It is expected that participants with higher EI scores and marginalized groups will perceive toxic leadership scenarios more severely.