Question

John does not recognize when or understand why his wife gets frustrated when he leaves his dirty socks and other laundry on the bathroom floor. john is lacking:

Answer 1

John is lacking "emotional competence".
Emotional competence alludes to a quality in human being which enables him or her to express and show their emotions and feelings. People with this quality are easy to go around. Because John is lacking this quality he is unable to recognize the feelings or emotions of his wife.