Emojis are a whimsical way to communicate, allowing users to send a smiley face, an avocado, and even an eggplant to express their feelings.
But the way you use digital images reveals your emotional intelligence, says a new study.
The results revealed that people with higher emotional intelligence and secure attachment can send emojis more frequently.
This is because texters use text messages to reduce uncertainty about what their messages convey, thereby recognizing how the recipient may interpret the communication.
This was more common among women who tend to express themselves on a more intimate level.
Meanwhile, people who suffer from avoidant attachment problems are less likely to share emojis with family, friends, or romantic partners.
And the men in the survey were found to have higher levels of attachment avoidance than women, which the researchers linked to them sending fewer emojis to their partners.
A study revealed that people who have higher emotional intelligence are more likely to share emojis with friends, family and romantic partners
This first-of-its-kind study, conducted by researchers at Indiana University, revealed the importance of nonverbal cues that can actually foster healthier, more substantial relationships.
A sample of 320 adults, 191 women and 123 men, were observed using emojis in text messages, email, Slack, and other devices.
They were also asked to complete an online survey that asked them to share their demographic information, attachment style, emotional intelligence, and how often they used emojis.
The researchers found that participants used emojis most frequently to reduce any uncertainty about 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 possible discomfort.
The study, published in the journal PLOS ONE, suggested “that women may be more emotionally expressive, want to convey more complex meanings, and/or aspire to be more precise in their (computer-mediated communication), particularly with friends and family.” ‘
This type of communication was limited to everyday relationships, and participants showed that they were reluctant to create this type of social connection with more distant people or business partners.
Women were more likely to send emojis to convey the tone of a message or maintain a healthy connection with others.
According to the study, emojis were also associated with more romantic and sexual interactions and were used to maintain a healthy connection after a first date.
The researchers drew on attachment theory which suggests that parent-child bonding experiences manifest in other relationships later in life, which could arise through virtual communication.
Those who had developed high levels of anxious attachment or experienced fears of abandonment were among the participants who did not show emotional intimacy when sending emojis to others.
Participants who showed high levels of emotional intelligence by sending more emojis were found to have a combination of personal and social awareness and were able to better manage relationships and conflict.
The study explained that people with more emotional intelligence viewed emoji-laden messages as revealing, while those with avoidant attachment issues simply saw them as someone sharing factual information.
“This indicates that people with higher EI (emotional intelligence) better interpret the emotional signals of emojis,” according to the study.
The way we interact during virtual communications can reveal something more about ourselves. It’s not just a smiley face or a heart emoji: it’s a way to convey meaning and communicate more effectively, and the way you use it tells us something about you.”
The researchers said more studies need to be done to fully understand the role emojis play in our relationships.
They added that “understanding this intersection could be crucial to understanding the nuances of how people form and maintain relationships in an increasingly digital world.”