Effect of Attachment Styles on Emotional Intelligence and Leadership Styles

Abstract

The goal of this study was to investigate the linkage between attachment styles and emotional intelligence as well as leadership styles. Based on the previous research and theory for attachment styles and emotional intelligence, it was hypothesized that both close and depend attachment would be associated with high level of emotional intelligence and its sub-scales whereas anxiety attachment would be associated with low level of emotional intelligence and its sub-scales. For leadership styles, another hypothesis was formulated that close attachment individuals are likely to adopt democratic leadership style. Sixty three participants (42 males and 21 females) aged 18-24 years (M=21.93, SD=2.53) completed the Revised Adult Attachment Scale (RAAS), Trait emotional intelligence questionnaire – short form (TEIQue–SF) and Leadership Style Questionnaire. The results from correlation and linear regression shows that close attachment has positive impact on emotional intelligence whereas anxiety attachment has negative impact on emotional intelligence. However, no relationship was found between depend attachment and emotional intelligence. In addition to this, individuals scoring high on close attachment style are more likely to adapt the democratic style of leadership whereas individuals scoring high on depend attachment style are less likely to adopt laissez-faire style of leadership.