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Can Constructive Thinking Predict Decision Making?
Author(s) -
SantosRuiz Ana,
FernandezSerrano Maria Jose,
RoblesOrtega Humbelina,
PerezGarcia Miguel,
NavarreteNavarrete Nuria,
PeraltaRamirez Maria Isabel
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
journal of behavioral decision making
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.136
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1099-0771
pISSN - 0894-3257
DOI - 10.1002/bdm.747
Subject(s) - constructive , psychology , cognitive flexibility , cognitive psychology , cognition , executive functions , emotional intelligence , function (biology) , working memory , set (abstract data type) , flexibility (engineering) , cognitive science , social psychology , process (computing) , computer science , management , operating system , neuroscience , evolutionary biology , economics , biology , programming language
We assume that executive function constitutes an integrated set of cognitive processes that mediate working memory, planning, inhibition, flexibility, and decision making. Despite the acknowledged theoretical connection between executive function processes and emotional intelligence, such relationships have rarely been investigated. The purpose of this study was to examine the potential relationship between constructive thinking, conceived as a component of emotional intelligence, and executive function, as indexed by various existing neuropsychological and experimental instruments. We used the Constructive Thinking Inventory as a measure of emotional intelligence. We found that some constructive thinking subscales were able to predict distinct executive function variables. Emotional Coping, Categorical Thinking, and Esoteric Thinking subscales explained performance on various measures of executive function. Thus, we conclude that intervention programs designed to train a specific component of emotional intelligence, namely constructive thinking, could also facilitate performance in executive function processes, and vice versa. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.