The moderating effect of emotional intelligence on the reduction of corruption in the Nigerian Police

Abstract

This study investigated the moderating effect of emotional intelligence on the reduction of corruption in the Nigerian Police. Three hundred police officer participants (mean age, 35.4) purposively and randomly selected from three State Police Command areas participated in a six‐week quasi‐experiment in which two existential–phenomenological counselling techniques (focusing on locus of control and self‐efficacy) were used as interventions. Two instruments, the Police Emotional Intelligence Scale and the Police Ethical Behaviour Scale, were utilized in the study. The data collected were analysed using analysis of covariance and t‐test statistics treating emotional intelligence as a moderator at two levels (high and low). Findings showed that emotional intelligence could effectively moderate attitudinal measures on police corruption. These findings support the use of emotional intelligence as a catalyst in promoting integrity‐based policing in Nigeria.

Keywords:

• emotional intelligence
• locus of control
• self‐efficacy
• corruption
• Nigerian Police

Acknowledgements

Gratitude is expressed to the British Council and Association of Commonwealth Universities for the award of a Commonwealth Fellowship to the first author.