Personality Traits of Teachers in Relation to Social Intelligence

Abstract

     The main aim of this research was to find the interconnections between the personality traits of the teachers and the social intelligencee (SQ) components, as well as, to find gender differences between them. The SQ of teachers was based on self-evaluation using the Solution of Interpersonal Problem-oriented Situations questionnaire, the Tromsø Social Intelligence Scale and the NEO Five-Factor Inventory. The selection of the research sample, which consisted of 553 primary and secondary school teachers, was intentional and based on the subjective consideration and definition of certain typical features or traits. Data were analyzed with factor analysis, correlation analysis, and t-tests. This research discovered significant differences between men and women on the basis of their assessment of several social intelligence factors, and confirmed that social intelligence is an essential tool for the interpretation of people’s behavior and provides an opportunity to address this behavior.