Large meta-analysis finds gender differences in emotional intelligence are nuanced, not a simple female advantage
An analysis of 1,279 papers and data from over 600,000 people across 76 countries found that women score higher on recognizing and understanding emotions, but men score higher on regulating their own emotions. The gap depends on measurement method: performance-based tests show a larger female advantage than self-reports. The researchers caution against conflating confidence with competence.
The meta-analysis, spanning nearly three decades of research, examined four distinct emotional skills rather than treating emotional intelligence as a single trait. Performance-based tests, which score accuracy on tasks, revealed a larger female advantage in recognizing and understanding emotions than self-report surveys did. The gender gap in overall emotional intelligence has narrowed over time, especially among children, though researchers note that age, generation, and period effects cannot be separated in the data.
The study’s authors emphasize that self-perception does not equal demonstrated ability. Men may overestimate their emotional skills, women may underestimate theirs, or both dynamics may be at play. Because emotional intelligence is linked to job performance, stress management, and workplace relationships, the distinction between confidence and competence carries practical implications for how organizations evaluate and deploy talent.
This research could reshape workplace training, hiring, and leadership development by challenging assumptions that women are inherently more emotionally intelligent. Organizations may need to rely on performance-based assessments rather than self-evaluations, which could affect promotion decisions and team dynamics. The finding that men score higher on self-regulation while women excel at managing others’ emotions may also influence how emotional labor is assigned, potentially reducing burnout among women who are disproportionately expected to handle interpersonal challenges.