Personality and Emotional Intelligence: The Role of Extraversion in Self-Control and Managing Emotions among Undergraduate and Postgraduate Students

Personality plays a significant role in shaping an individual’s ability to control emotions. Extensive research has examined the association between extraversion a personality trait characterized by sociability, assertiveness, and enthusiasm and emotional intelligence (EI), defined as the capacity to perceive, understand, manage, and regulate emotions effectively. The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between extraversion and specific dimensions of emotional intelligence, namely self-control and managing emotions, among a sample of 54 undergraduate and postgraduate students. Data was collected using the Emotional Intelligence Scale and the NEO Personality Inventory. The findings revealed that individuals with lower levels of extraversion exhibited significantly lower levels of self-control and emotion management, whereas those with higher extraversion demonstrated stronger emotional regulation abilities. This study supports the findings of Taneja et al. (2020), who reported a strong positive relationship between extraversion and EI among medical students. These results suggest that the development of emotional control is influenced by personality traits and that social conditioning during formative years plays a critical role in cultivating self-regulatory skills. This study contributes to the growing body of literature highlighting the impact of personality traits, particularly extraversion, on emotional intelligence and underscores the importance of further research integrating perspectives from both neuroscience and social psychology, especially in environments where emotional control mechanisms are underdeveloped.