Emotional Intelligence Components and Ethical Judgment Levels of Independent Auditors: The Moderating Role of Extraversion

Abstract

Auditors’ ethical judgments are central to the credibility of financial reporting and the preservation of public trust. While technical expertise is essential, it is not suffcient on its own, as auditors often work under intense pressure, uncertainty, and complex social interactions where emotions play a significant role in shaping decisions. Drawing on Rest’s four-component model of moral functioning, the study investigates how four EI subdimensions (emotional evaluation, empathic sensitivity, positive emotional management, and positive use of emotions) shape auditors’ ethical decision-making. Data were collected from 207 auditors through validated survey instruments and analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). The population of the study consists of participants who have an independent auditor certificate and operate in Türkiye. Empirical study was conducted over a three-month period, beginning in December 2024 and ending in February 2025. Results indicate that emotional evaluation and the positive use of emotions significantly predict ethical judgment, underscoring the importance of recognizing emotional cues and leveraging positive affect in promoting ethical vigilance. By contrast, empathic sensitivity and emotional management did not demonstrate significant effects, suggesting that empathy and self-regulation may play a lesser role in highly regulated professional contexts. Extraversion did not moderate any of the hypothesized relationships, challenging assumptions about the amplifying role of personality traits in the application of EI. The findings extend emotional intelligence theory by highlighting its selective and context-dependent impact on ethics, while also offering practical insights for auditor training and regulatory policies aimed at strengthening professional skepticism and ethical conduct. © The author(s) 2025.