Emotional Intelligence and the Intensity of Temperament Traits in Men Convicted of Murder

Abstract

Introduction. Emotional intelligence and temperament are important psychological variables related to emotional regulation, impulse control, social functioning, and adaptation to stressful conditions. In forensic and correctional psychology, these constructs are particularly relevant for understanding the functioning of individuals convicted of serious violent crimes, including murder. Emotional intelligence is usually defined as the ability to perceive, understand, use, and regulate emotions (Salovey & Mayer, 1990; Mayer & Salovey, 1997; Mayer et al., 2004), although mixed models also describe it as a broader set of emotional, social, and adaptive competences (Bar-On, 1997; Goleman, 1995). Temperament refers to relatively stable, biologically based formal characteristics of behavior,…