The implicit use of explicit conceptions of social intelligence

• Published in: Personality and individual differences Vol. 15; no. 1; pp. 11 - 23
• Main Authors: Kosmitzki, Corinne, John, Oliver P.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.07.1993; Elsevier
• Subjects: Behavior. Attitude; Biological and medical sciences; Concepts; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Individual differences; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychophysiology; Social intelligence; Social psychology; Human; Personality; Social perception; Attitude; Implicit theory; Social cognition
• ISSN: 0191-8869; 1873-3549
• DOI: 10.1016/0191-8869(93)90037-4

The psychometric literature on individual differences in social intelligence shows little agreement about the definition and the content of this construct. To examine its conceptual origin, subjects' implicit conceptions were studied. In Study 1, subjects judged 18 putative components of social intelligence in terms of their centrality, with considerable interjudge agreement. In Study 2, subjects described a peer whom they liked or disliked. The two studies suggest that the most central components of social intelligence: (1) include cognitive aspects (e.g. understanding others, knowing social rules) as well as behavioral aspects (dealing with people, social adaptability), (2) load together on a distinct factor in peer ratings, and (3) are independent of two other peer rating factors, Social Influence and Social Memory. The relations between subjects' implicit conception of social intelligence and several explicit models are discussed.