Emotional Intelligence as predictor of locus of control and academic achievement of gifted and non-gifted student in high school in Al-AHasa

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the possibility to predict internal- external locus of control and academic achievement among gifted and non- gifted female students based on their emotional intelligence (EI). To achieve this goal, a random sample of 42 gifted and 66 average students in level one and two of secondary schools in Al-Ahsa has been selected. The scale of Othman and Rizq (2002) has been used. It consists of 58 items related to the dimensions of EI: emotional knowledge, management of emotions, controlling emotions, empathy and social communication. Rotter’s scale of internal locus of control has been used after translation and testing its validity and reliability.  The results show that dimensions of emotional management and empathy in EI were good predictors for the academic achievement of the gifted. It also showed the potential prediction of the management of emotions and emotional knowledge (ILOC). The results also indicate that there was a significant relationship between EI and ILOC in the gifted females, unlike the average students. The findings also revealed that there were significant differences between the gifted and the average students in the dimensions of EI inclining to the gifted students, and between both of them in terms of (ILOC) for the gifted students as well.