HATE SPEECH AND EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE: A STUDY AMONG UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

Abstract

Hate speech is a long-standing social issue that has intensified and spread rapidly with the expansion of the internet and social media, negatively affecting social cohesion and emotional well-being. In the university context, these divisive narratives can impact students, who face challenges related to their emotional capacity to manage and respond to such adverse situations. The objective of this study was to analyze the relationship between the level of emotional intelligence and the role assumed in relation to hate speech among university students, using two previously validated instruments. The sample consisted of 160 students from the Social Work program at the Technical University of Ambato. Through a quantitative approach, data were collected and analyzed using statistical tools that allowed the identification of behavioral patterns and relationships between the study variables. The results showed a significant correlation between the level of emotional intelligence and participation in hate speech contexts. Students with higher emotional intelligence exhibited a lower tendency to assume the roles of victim, perpetrator, or passive observer in hate speech situations. It is concluded that emotional intelligence not only acts as a protective factor against hate speech but also promotes assertive responses and helps reduce the prevalence of these negative dynamics.