EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE AS A FACTOR OF CONFLICT INTERACTION IN RUSSIA AND THE NETHERLANDS

Abstract

The paper presents the results of a study of particular manifestations of emotional intelligence in the Russian and Dutch cultures. The main hypothesis of the study was that cultural identity influences the manifestation of emotional intelligence in conflicts. 146 Russian students (mean age: 20, 2 years old) and 125 Dutch students (mean age: 21,6 years old) participated in the study. It is shown that emotional intelligence in the Russian culture is manifested in high evaluation of tactics, which determine close interaction with the partner aimed to solve the conflict situation together. Emotional intelligence in the Dutch culture is manifested in high evaluation of assertive expression of their position in conflict. The Russian participants evaluated the indirect tactics of conflict interaction higher than the Dutch participants. The Dutch participants evaluated direct conflict interaction strategies higher than the Russian participants. Results of the study contribute to cross-cultural research. Also the results can be applied in consulting or training work with people who communicate with foreigners and want to improve their cross-cultural effectiveness.

Keywords

• emotional intelligence, culture, conflict interaction