Intelligence (EI), representing the way people manage their own emotions and others` emotions, may be moderated by the perceptive style, as measured by the degree of field-dependence. This relationship was investigated in horse-riding, an activity in which emotions are predominant, especially concerning the affectivity between the rider and the horse; and where the perceptive style is a key to understand rider`s behavior. Objectives: This study is aimed to know if near-expert horse riders with high trait EI rely more on external or internal cues to process information, which can be measured by field-dependence. Methods: First EI of French near-expert horse riders (N=50) was assessed by the French version of the TEIQue (Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire, Mikolajczak, Luminet, Leroy, & Roy, 2007). Extreme scores were selected, and two groups were constituted, high trait EI (n=18) and low trait EI (n=18). Field-dependence of these participants was then assessed by the Rod-and-Frame Task (Witkin & Asch, 1948). Results: An ANOVA was performed with 2 independent variables, gender and EI, and one dependent variable, field-dependence score. A gender effect was found: female horse riders are significantly more field-independent than male horse riders (F (1; 32) = 20.058; p<.0001). The interaction effect between gender and EI was significant (F (1, 32) = 6,075; p<.05). Further mean comparisons were processed; high trait EI male horse riders are significantly more field-independent than low trait EI male horse-riders (F (1; 14) = 4.63; p < .05); whereas high trait EI female horse-riders have a tendency to be more field-dependent than low trait EI female horse-riders (F (1; 18) = 1.66; p < .25). Discussion: The relationship between EI and field-dependence in horse-riding appears to be gender specific; high trait EI male relying more on bodily cues, and high trait EI female having a tendency to rely more on contextual cues. These findings can explain the differences in managing horse`s emotions, and one`s own emotions in competition. Further research is needed to explore the influence of EI and field-dependence in horse-riding performance, with the necessity to take into account gender differences, as underlined by this study.
© Copyright 2009 14th annual Congress of the European College of Sport Science, Oslo/Norway, June 24-27, 2009, Book of Abstracts. Veröffentlicht von The Norwegian School of Sport Sciences. Alle Rechte vorbehalten.