The aim of this study was to examine the relattionship between emotional intelligence, deffense mechanisms and general intelligence in a sample of Tehran University students. One hunddred and sixty one students (109 girls, 47 boys, 5 unknown) were included in this study. All partticipants were asked to complete the Emotional Intelligence Scale (EIS) and the Defense Style Questionnaire (DSQ). Analysis of the data invvolved both descriptive and inferential statistics including means, standard deviations, t-tests, pearson>s correlation coefficients, and regresssion analyses. The results revealed that emottional intelligence was positively associated with mature defense mechanisms and negatively associated with immature defense mechanisms. No significant correlation was found between emotional intelligence and general intelligence. The results of regression analysis showed that both mature and immature defense mechanisms could be predicted by emotional intelligence and its component of emotional regulation. It can be concluded that ego defense mechanisms are inffluenced by emotional intelligence through manaagement, understanding, regulation, and evaluattion of emotions in an uncounsciosc level.