Hierarchical Emotional Intelligence in the Indian Workplace: Psychometric Validation of the Drigas–Papoutsi Pyramid Model

Abstract

Purpose: Hierarchical models of emotional intelligence (EI) offer theoretically rich frameworks for understanding the developmental architecture of emotional competencies. Despite the growing prominence of the 9-layered pyramid model advanced by Drigas and Papoutsi (2018), its psychometric properties and factorial validity remain untested within non-Western professional populations. This study addresses that gap by providing the first quantitative validation of this model among working professionals in India.

Design/Methodology/Approach: A cross-sectional survey design was employed. A purpose-built 45-item instrument operationalising all nine EI dimensions was administered to 380 working professionals across three sectors in Gujarat, India, using a five-point Likert scale. Data were analysed using Cronbach’s alpha reliability analysis, Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO) and Bartlett’s tests, exploratory factor analysis (EFA) with varimax rotation, one-way ANOVA, Pearson correlation, and multiple linear regression.

Findings: The instrument demonstrated excellent overall reliability (α = 0.92) with all nine subscales meeting or exceeding the 0.70 threshold. EFA yielded a four-factor structure—Intrapersonal EI, Interpersonal EI, Transcendent EI, and Foundational EI—explaining 46.29% of total variance. Self-awareness was the strongest predictor of overall EI (β = 0.31, p < 0.001). Statistically significant gender differences were observed for self-awareness and social awareness, with female respondents scoring higher on both dimensions.

Research Limitations/Implications: The cross-sectional design and regional sampling from Gujarat limit temporal inference and national generalisability. Future research should employ confirmatory factor analysis, structural equation modelling, and longitudinal designs to extend these findings.

Originality/Value: This study provides the first empirical psychometric evidence for the 9-layered pyramid model in an Indian professional context. The validated four-factor structure constitutes a parsimonious and actionable framework for EI assessment and training in organisational and educational settings.