Seeing emotions clearly: Emotional intelligence and the categorization of emotional pictures

Emotional intelligence (EI) and emotional clarity (EC) are conceptualized as critical facets of emotional competence, yet their behavioral correlates remain underexplored. This study examined whether behavioral indicators derived from an emotional categorization task are associated with trait EI and EC. Participants (N = 154) categorized emotional pictures varying in valence and provided confidence ratings. Reaction time variability (sdRT), confidence level, and the probability of choosing a second emotion (PSE) were extracted, alongside the percent dominant response (PDR), reflecting clarity in emotional labeling. Participants also completed self-report measures of EI and EC. Structural models revealed that sdRT, PSE, and confidence were significantly associated with PDR, which was also associated with EI and EC, but only for positive stimuli. Notably, confidence was associated with EI. Greater performance consistency and confidence were observed for positive relative to negative stimuli. These findings the advance understanding of how performance-based indicators of momentary EC relates to trait-level emotional competencies, emphasizing the centrality of emotional labeling in emotional functioning.