What Cognitive Intelligence Is and What Emotional Intelligence Is Not

My commentary deals with the Mayer, Salovey, and Caruso (this issue) article. I substantially agree with the views of Matthews, Roberts and Zeidner. My commentary considers three issues. First, I indicate that there are fundamental distinction between tests of cognitive intelligence and the Mayer–Salovey–Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test (MSCEIT) of emotional intelligence (EI). Second, I sketch a brief outline of some properties of cognitive intelligence construed as a latent trait and I review empirical studies that provide insights into the variable relation between the latent trait for cognitive ability and psychometric measures of intelligence. And, I indicate that the research reported by Mayer et al. does not indicate that MSCEIT assesses a construct that has isomorphic characteristics. Third, I review the studies presented by Mayer et al. purporting to demonstrate that MSCEIT has predictive validity.