Comparing Emotional Intelligence and Creativity in Gifted Students and Students with Average Intelligence

Background and Emotional intelligence and creativity are among effective factors in real life outcomes such as academic achievement, business success, successful interpersonal relationships, and general mental health. Present study aimed to compare emotional intelligence and creativity in gifted students and students with average intelligence. present research was a descriptive study with casual-comparative design. Study population consisted of all the high school students who were studying in the schools of Damghan in 1392-93 academic year. Sample consisted of 60 students that were selected using convenient sampling method (30 gifted students and 30 students with average intelligence) and completed Creativity Scale (Abedi, 1984) and Emotional Intelligence Test (Bar-On, 1999). results of independent sample t test indicated that comparing students with average intelligence, gifted students gained significantly higher scores on emotional intelligence and creativity (except the flexibility subscale) (p < 0.05). the performance of students with average intelligence can foster through administering effective training programs on emotional intelligence and creativity. The implications are discussed further in the paper.