The Effect of Priming of Emotional Intelligence on Test Anxiety

Abstract

This study aimed to examine the effect that priming emotionally intelligent self-concepts could affect cognitive test anxiety. I hypothesized that priming people with emotionally intelligent self-concepts would result in higher emotional intelligence scores and lower test anxiety scores. I expected that the emotional regulation aspect would have the highest difference in scores between the prime and control group. In addition, I expected to find that higher levels of test anxiety would be negatively correlated with lower levels of EI, and that higher levels of GPA would be related to higher levels of EI. A sample of 71 undergraduates responded to emotional intelligence prime questions, a minute math test, the Cognitive Test Anxiety Scale, and the Mayer-Salovey-Caruso Emotional Intelligence test. The prime did not significantly affect test anxiety or emotional intelligence. Higher levels of test anxiety did correlate with lower overall emotional intelligence, and higher levels of GPA were related to higher levels of EI. Possible reasons why the prime did not have the intended effect were discussed. Suggestions for future research were made.