EFFECTIVENESS OF A POWERFUL SPIRITUAL INTELLIGENCE FRAMEWORK ON THE EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE IMPROVEMENT OF PRE-SERVICE TEACHER TRAINEES

The authors of this study attempted to investigate the effectiveness of a self-preparatory spiritual intelligence intervention training package in improving the emotional intelligence of pre-service teacher trainees confined in the theoretical frameworks of emotional intelligence by Goleman, 1995 and Salovey and Mayer 1990, and spiritual intelligence, Zohar and Marshall 2000 and as well as Emmons 2000. The investigation was carried out by adopting a quasi-experimental pre-test, post-test control group design. In total sixty pre-service teacher trainees from a randomly selected institution in Himachal Pradesh were divided into experimental and control groups for imparting training in accordance with interventions carefully prepared and chosen respectively for them under controlled condition. The experimental group provided with a structured seven-week intervention focused on spiritual practices such as mindfulness reflective journaling and value-based discussions while the control group continued with on-going teacher training program as per usual practices adopted in the educational institutions of the state as a part of carrying out the curriculum to complete the course. Whereas, the emotional intelligence of these trainees was measured using Mangal’s Teachers’ Emotional Intelligence Inventory 2008 assessing five fundamental factors: awareness of self and others, professional orientation, intra-personal management, inter-personal management and total emotional intelligence. For performing statistical analyses including independent and paired sample t-tests revealed significant improvements in all emotional intelligence factors among the experimental group with no comparable gains in the control group of pre-service teacher trainees. The findings underscore the amazing transformative potential of integrating spiritual intelligence into teacher education training program, promoting emotional maturity ethical sensitivity and professional resilience. Finally, the study advocates for the inclusion of spiritually grounded emotional development modules in teacher training curricula to prepare well-rounded empathetic and emotionally competent educators by creating a congenial spiritual environment with the help of thought provoking, vibrant and in depth discussion and a set pattern of practical exercises. Index Terms: Effectiveness, Spiritual-Intelligence, Emotional-Intelligence, Pre-Service Teacher Trainees.