Abstract
This study examined the relationship between emotional intelligence and artificial intelligence in dispute resolution and counselling in tertiary education institutions in Rivers State, Nigeria. The aim was to determine how the dimensions of emotional intelligence namely, self-awareness and social awareness (empathy) influence the functionality and effectiveness of artificial intelligence tools, particularly machine learning and expert systems, in managing conflicts and supporting counselling processes in academic environments. The study adopted a correlational survey research design, targeting students, counselors, and administrative personnel across selected tertiary institutions in Rivers State. A structured questionnaire titled “Emotional and Artificial Intelligence in Counselling and Conflict Management Scale (EAICCMS)” was developed, validated by experts, and tested for reliability using Cronbach Alpha, which yielded a coefficient of 0.87. The population of the study comprises 300 academic counselors, student affairs officers, and students across 3selected tertiary education institutions in Rivers State. The sample size of the study were collected from 300 respondents using multi-stage sampling techniques and analyzed using descriptive statistics (mean and standard deviation) and inferential statistics (Pearson Product Moment Correlation). The results revealed a strong and statistically significant relationship between emotional intelligence and artificial intelligence in dispute resolution and counselling. Specifically, the findings showed that self-awareness positively correlates with machine learning and expert systems, while social awareness (empathy) also significantly influences both AI components, enhancing their adaptability and sensitivity in emotionally charged situations. It recommended, among others, the integration of emotional intelligence training into staff development programs.
Keywords: Artificial Intelligence, Counselling, Dispute Resolution, Emotional Intelligence, Machine Learning,