Cognitions as determinants of (mal)adaptive emotions and emotionally intelligent behavior in an organizational context.

Full Abstract

This study applies the theoretical concepts of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT; Ellis, 1962, 1994) to the analysis of functional and dysfunctional behaviour and emotions in the workplace and tests central assumptions of REBT in an organizational setting. We argue that Ellis' appraisal theory of emotion sheds light on some of the cognitive and emotional antecedents of emotional intelligence and emotionally intelligent behaviour. In an extension of REBT, we posit that adaptive emotions resulting from rational cognitions reflect more emotional intelligence than maladaptive emotions which result from irrational cognitions, because the former lead to functional behaviour. We hypothesize that semantically similar emotions (e.g. annoyance and rage) lead to different behavioural reactions and have a different functionality in an organizational context. The results of scenario experiments using organizational vignettes confirm the central assumptions of Ellis' appraisal theory and support our hypotheses of a correspondence between adaptive emotions and emotionally intelligent behaviour. Additionally, we find evidence that irrational job-related attitudes result in reduced work (but not life) satisfaction.

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Author information

Author/s: Spörrle, Matthias (M); Welpe, Isabell M (IM); Försterling, Friedrich (F);

Affiliation: Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, München, Germany. spoerrle(-atsign-)psy.uni-muenchen.de

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article

Journal: Psicothema (Psicothema), published in Spain. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2006-; vol 18 Suppl (issue ) : pp 165-71

Dates: Created 2007/02/13; Completed 2007/05/01;

PMID: 17295975, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Humans
Intelligence
Male
Psychological Theory
Workplace - psychology

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