Systematic analysis of interpersonal intelligence
Abstract
This study presents a systematic analysis and meta-analysis of interpersonal intelligence, a core construct in social and developmental psychology. Despite its relevance, there is notable heterogeneity in its conceptualization and measurement, which hinders a unified understanding of its components and its impact on human interactions. The main objective of this research was to systematically analyze interpersonal intelligence, evaluate the validity of common measurement instruments, and determine its relationship with variables such as social success, psychological well-being, and academic performance. To achieve this, a systematic review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines. The search was performed in the PsycINFO, PubMed, and Web of Science databases, using a combination of keywords such as "interpersonal intelligence," "social skills," and "empathy." From a total of 1,500 articles, 85 empirical studies were selected for the analysis. The main results of the meta-analysis reveal that interpersonal intelligence is significantly associated with greater satisfaction in interpersonal relationships (d = 0.65) and a lower risk of social adjustment problems (d = -0.48). Furthermore, it was found that self-report instruments tend to overestimate effects compared to observation-based assessments. In conclusion, interpersonal intelligence is a robust predictor of psychosocial functioning. The need to develop more rigorous measurement instruments and to promote research that explores its neural and genetic bases for a deeper understanding is emphasized.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Grey Esther Teherán Torres
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