Emotional Intelligence and Intimacy in Relationships

Emotional Intelligence is the ability to understand, manage one’s own and other’s feelings in order to adapt to the demands of the environment. Intimacy refers to the feelings of closeness and bondedness in close relationships. Emotional Intelligence help enhance intimacy by open expression of emotions and empathetic response to the partner’s self-disclosure. The study examined the relationship between emotional intelligence and intimacy in 108 young adults currently in a heterosexual romantic relationship, belonging to the age group of 20-35 years (M=24.1 years, SD= 3.23 years) consisting of 36 (30%) males and 72 (70%) females. The study employed three scales namely Sternberg’s Love Triangular Scale (1988), Schutte Emotional Intelligence Scale (1998) and Intimacy Attitude Scale Revised (1985). Data was collected through Google forms by emailing the questionnaire to the participants known to be in relationship through common friends and also by personally giving the questionnaire to students of universities in Delhi, NCR region. Positive correlation was found between Attitude towards intimacy and emotional intelligence; commitment and managing owns emotions subscale of emotional intelligence; attitude towards intimacy and managing other’s emotions subscale of emotional intelligence. Thus emotionally intelligent individuals have a greater desire towards intimacy and commitment in their relationships.