Modeling the determinants of emotional intelligence, self-motivation and individual success. Evidence from Portugal

The emotional intelligence has a plurality of settings that have played a key role both in the organizational context and in people´s behavior at work. This study aims at understanding the interrelationship between emotional intelligence, self-motivation and individual success, as well as the specific determinants that influence the performance of these behavioral dimensions. It is expected that a person with high emotional intelligence will probably have more success and competitive advantage compared to the one with less emotional intelligence. Self-motivation is closely linked to emotional intelligence in order to achieve goals that lead to individual success. To assess the interconnection between these personal characteristics, a questionnaire was carried out in Portugal involving 519 individuals who had at that time a job occupation. This data-base allows us to model the relationship between Emotional Intelligence, Self-Motivation and Individual Success and find the main determinants explaining these personal qualities. The estimation of linear probability models and ordinal logistic models depict the close interrelation between these characteristics, as well as, the determinants which are specific to each case. The empirical findings can serve as guidelines for individuals to control their behavior with respect to emotional intelligence and in conjunction with self-motivation which can lead to individual success.