Original scientific paper

Effects of Personality on Social Network Disclosure: Do Emotionally Intelligent Individuals Post Inappropriate Content?

Kerry Newness ; School of Integrated Science and Humanity, Florida International University, USA
Jason Steinert ; School of Integrated Science and Humanity, Florida International University, USA
Chockalingam Viswesvaran ; School of Integrated Science and Humanity, Florida International University, USA

Abstract

The prevalence of individuals using social networking sites to stay connected has increased considerably in only a few years and the information posted is now being used by organizations for employee selection. The purpose of the current study was to investigating how differences on the Big Five Personality traits, honesty-integrity, and emotional intelligence influence whether individuals post inappropriate social network content. Participants were 506 college students from a large metropolitan state university in the Southeastern United States. Results suggest individuals scoring high on emotional intelligence and honesty/integrity disclosed less inappropriate social network content. Emotional intelligence was not, however, predictive of inappropriate disclosure above and beyond the Big Five Personality traits. Honest and emotionally intelligent individuals seem to understand the negative implications of disclosing inappropriate social network content. Future research should examine how social network information is being used in employee selection and the predictive validity of this method.

Keywords

social network; emotional intelligence; Big Five personality; inappropriate disclosure; hiring decisions

Hrčak ID:

95507

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/95507

Publication date:

31.12.2012.

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