What your spouse's emojis says about their emotional intelligence

Emojis are not just a whimsical way to communicate, they can also reveal your spouse's emotional intelligence.

A new study has found that individuals with higher emotional intelligence and secure attachment may send emojis more frequently. 

That is because texters who used them aimed to reduce uncertainty in what their messages were conveying, thus recognizing how the recipient may interpret the communication. 

Researchers found this was more common among women who tend to express themselves on a more intimate level.

However, people who suffer from avoidant attachment issues are less likely to share emojis with family, friends or romantic partners.

And men in the survey were found to have higher levels of attachment avoidance than women, which researchers linked to them sending fewer emojis to their partners.

This first-of-its-kind study, conducted by researchers at Indiana University, revealed the importance of non-verbal cues that can actually foster healthier and more substantial relationships.

A sample of 320 adults, 191 women and 123 men, were observed using emojis over text, email, slack and other devices.

They were also asked to complete an online survey that prompted them to share their demographic information, attachment style, emotional intelligence and how often they used emojis. 

The researchers found that the participants most often used emojis to reduce any uncertainty over what they were trying to communicate and convey the tone of a message.

They were also used to clarify messages, lighten the mood or reveal their sense of humor to avoid any potential awkwardness. 

The study, published in the journal PLOS ONE, suggested 'that women may be more emotionally expressive, want to convey more complex meaning, and/or aim to be more precise in their [computer-mediated communication], particularly with friends and family.'

This type of communication was limited to every day relationships, with participants showing they were reluctant to create this type of social connection with more distant people or business associates.

According to the study, emojis were also associated with more romantic and sexual interactions and used to maintain a healthy connection after going on a first date.

The researchers built upon the attachment theory that suggests a parent-child bonding experiences manifest themselves in other relationships later in life, which could come out through virtual communication.

Those who had developed high levels of anxious attachment or experienced fears of abandonment were among the participants that didn't display emotional intimacy by sending emojis to others.

Participants who showed high emotional intelligence levels by sending more emojis were found to have a combination of self and social awareness and were able to better manage relationships and handle conflicts.

The study explained that people with more emotional intelligence viewed messages laden with emojis as being self-revelatory, while those with avoidance attachment issues simply viewed them as someone sharing factual information.

'This indicates that individuals with higher EI [emotional intelligence] are better at interpreting the emotional cues in emojis,' the study said.

The way we interact during virtual communications may reveal something more about ourselves. It is not just a smiley face or heart emoji: it's a way to convey meaning and communicate more effectively, and how you use it tells us something about you.' 

The researchers said more studies need to be conducted to fully understand the role emojis play in our relationships.

They added that 'understanding this intersection could be crucial in comprehending the nuances of how people form and maintain relationships in an increasingly digital world.'