Emotional intelligence (EQ) — the ability to recognize, manage, and respond to emotions — is often linked to empathy, communication, and relationship skills. Because of this, many people assume that women naturally have higher EQ than men. But is that backed by science?
The answer is complex. Studies show that while there are some consistent gender differences in specific components of EQ, overall emotional intelligence depends more on the individual than their gender.
What the Research Says
Meta-analyses and global EQ assessments have shown that:
- Women tend to score higher in empathy, interpersonal skills, and emotional awareness. These are EQ traits related to recognizing emotions and nurturing social bonds.
- Men tend to score higher in emotional self-regulation and stress tolerance. These reflect an ability to manage intense emotions, remain calm under pressure, and detach from emotional overload.
- On full EQ tests (combining all pillars), women often score slightly higher overall, but the differences are modest — usually within 3 to 5 percentile points.
For example, data from TalentSmart — a company that has tested EQ in over 500,000 people — found that women outscored men in 11 of 12 emotional intelligence competencies. However, the margin was small, and many men still scored in the high-EQ range.
Why the Difference?
Some of the variation may come from cultural and social conditioning. Women are often encouraged from a young age to express feelings, build relationships, and care for others. Men, on the other hand, are more likely to be rewarded for emotional restraint, independence, and assertiveness — traits that align with certain EQ sub-skills like self-control and decision-making under pressure.
EQ Is Not Gender-Locked
While gender averages can show trends, emotional intelligence is shaped more by life experience, self-reflection, and personal growth than by biology. Anyone — regardless of gender — can build empathy, improve emotional regulation, and strengthen social skills with practice.